Props: Hats, (3) boats, oars, globe, PowerPoint including pictures and music throughout dramatization, feathers, scroll, ending song “Discovering America”
Activity: Group members will perform a play of Columbus's journey to the new world.
Script:
Narrator: The year is 1484 and a man by the name of Christopher Columbus decides to meet with the King of Portugal, King John II. Columbus believes that the world is round and has an idea to travel around the coast of Africa to India, or what he calls “the Orient” to find spices, silk, gold and jewels. King John II turned Columbus down when he asked for ships to sail in search of these items. Saddened, Columbus turned to the king and queen of Spain for financial assistance, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The king and queen did not have any money to give, but that did not stop Columbus.
Columbus: Please, may I have some money to fund my trip? I will bring back many riches to share with you.
Ferdinand: Absolutely not! We will not help pay for a stupid trip. Besides, the world is flat! There’s nothing to prove.
Isabella: I’m sorry dear, but we do not have enough money to give you for your trip.
Narrator: For 6 years Columbus begged the King and Queen to sponsor his travels. Finally in 1492 they said yes. They gave him three ships: The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. The date is now August 3 and Columbus set off on the ocean blue with his sailors and ships.
Christopher Columbus: All sailors board your ships we are ready to explore and find the new world. Sailors: We will get lost; we do not know the routes or where to go! Columbus: I am a cartographer, I know how to make and read maps. My navigation skills will lead us in our travels.
Narrator: The sailors and Columbus are aboard their three ships. The ships set sail and begin to travel west. The boats lose sight of land and they begin to feel nervous.
Sailor 1: What if the wind stops blowing? The ships do not have motors! Sailor 2: What if there is a storm? The ships are small and made of wood. Sailor 1: What if we run out of food? We cannot go back to get more.
Narrator: It has been several days. The sailors begin to become frustrated. No land is in sight and they are tired of eating salty meat. They are tired of being stuck on their ships.
Sailor 1: What is that in the sky?!?! Sailor 2: It’s a sign! We should turn back! Columbus: No it’s a meteor, SAIL ON MATES!
Narrator: Two months have passed. The sailors are still angry and hoping to see land soon.
Columbus: Look the birds flying overhead and see the branches floating in the water. Their must be land nearby!
Narrator: From the Pinta the sailors finally see land. The date is now October 12, 1492.
All Sailors: LAND-HO! LAND-HO! (Sailors and Columbus get off the boats and kiss the ground under their feet)
Narrator: The sailors and Columbus think they have found the Indies. They name the island, San Salvador. He thinks it belongs to Spain.
Columbus: This land is now a part of Spain we shall call it, San Salvador. Sailors: (CHEER) Columbus: Where is the gold and spices? (give beads, bells) Indians: (confused, they give other goods such as cloth and birds)
Narrator: The Indians begin to talk amongst themselves.
Indian 1: Who are these men? Indian 2: Why do they have swords?
Narrator: Columbus and his sailors begin to sail further west. They visit other islands and meet more Indians. Indians teach Columbus and his sailors how to make hammocks and canoes. Oh no! The Santa Maria is shipwrecked!
Columbus: All board the Nina. All who do not fit will have to stay on the island. Only essential people and goods will travel on.
Narrator: The Nina and Pinta set on their voyage back Spain. The ships bring back many new goods including: corn potatoes, peanuts, papayas, and avocados. Columbus wants the Indians to come back to Spain with him.
Columbus: You are all to come with me back to Spain. Spain has never seen a real Indian before! Indians: No (fight with Columbus) Columbus: You must come! Board the boat now!
Narrator: Six Indians join Columbus on his voyage. On the route back to Spain, the weather has worsened and fierce winds batter the ships. Huge waves crash over the decks causing Columbus and his sailors to fear for their lives.
Columbus: Sailors, man your stations! Sailors 1, 2: We are going to sink! What should we do?! Columbus: Relax and sail these boats! We will all make it home alive.
Narrator: It is now March 15, 1493- Columbus and his crew reach Spain. Their voyage lasted 32 weeks. Columbus paid a visit to the queen and king to share his findings about the new world.
Columbus: I have found new land, and many new foods, materials and goods. I have brought six Indian people back with me to teach us their ways. King: That’s wonderful news. Queen: We are glad to see that you made it back safe and sound. King: We will now name you the “Admiral of the Ocean Sea”!
Narrator: The King and Queen believe he has found a new route to the Indies however that is not the case. Columbus is now seen as a hero and will be known for the rest of time as a great explorer who discovered America.
Script Template for Dramatizing Social Studies
Group Members: Ashley Neil, Ashley Estep, Kellina Keown, Tiffany Deiter, Sarah Roy Brenna Sprague
Activity Title: Columbus Discovers America
PA Standards:
NCSS Themes:
Subject Area: Columbus- United States History
Grade Level: 4th
Time: 8-10 minutes
Christopher Columbus: All sailors board your ships we are ready to explore and find the new world.
Sailors: We will get lost; we do not know the routes or where to go!
Columbus: I am a cartographer, I know how to make and read maps. My navigation skills will lead us in our travels.
- Narrator: The sailors and Columbus are aboard their three ships. The ships set sail and begin to travel west. The boats lose sight of land and they begin to feel nervous.
Sailor 1: What if the wind stops blowing? The ships do not have motors!Sailor 2: What if there is a storm? The ships are small and made of wood.
Sailor 1: What if we run out of food? We cannot go back to get more.
- Narrator: It has been several days. The sailors begin to become frustrated. No land is in sight and they are tired of eating salty meat. They are tired of being stuck on their ships.
Sailor 1: What is that in the sky?!?!Sailor 2: It’s a sign! We should turn back!
Columbus: No it’s a meteor, SAIL ON MATES!
- Narrator: Two months have passed. The sailors are still angry and hoping to see land soon.
Columbus: Look the birds flying overhead and see the branches floating in the water. Their must be land nearby!- Narrator: From the Pinta the sailors finally see land. The date is now October 12, 1492.
All Sailors: LAND-HO! LAND-HO! (Sailors and Columbus get off the boats and kiss the ground under their feet)- Narrator: The sailors and Columbus think they have found the Indies. They name the island, San Salvador. He thinks it belongs to Spain.
Columbus: This land is now a part of Spain we shall call it, San Salvador.Sailors: (CHEER)
Columbus: Where is the gold and spices? (give beads, bells)
Indians: (confused, they give other goods such as cloth and birds)
- Narrator: The Indians begin to talk amongst themselves.
Indian 1: Who are these men?Indian 2: Why do they have swords?
- Narrator: Columbus and his sailors begin to sail further west. They visit other islands and meet more Indians. Indians teach Columbus and his sailors how to make hammocks and canoes. Oh no! The Santa Maria is shipwrecked!
Columbus: All board the Nina. All who do not fit will have to stay on the island. Only essential people and goods will travel on.- Narrator: The Nina and Pinta set on their voyage back Spain. The ships bring back many new goods including: corn potatoes, peanuts, papayas, and avocados. Columbus wants the Indians to come back to Spain with him.
Columbus: You are all to come with me back to Spain. Spain has never seen a real Indian before!Indians: No (fight with Columbus)
Columbus: You must come! Board the boat now!
- Narrator: Six Indians join Columbus on his voyage. On the route back to Spain, the weather has worsened and fierce winds batter the ships. Huge waves crash over the decks causing Columbus and his sailors to fear for their lives.
Columbus: Sailors, man your stations!Sailors 1, 2: We are going to sink! What should we do?!
Columbus: Relax and sail these boats! We will all make it home alive.
- Narrator: It is now March 15, 1493- Columbus and his crew reach Spain. Their voyage lasted 32 weeks. Columbus paid a visit to the queen and king to share his findings about the new world.
Columbus: I have found new land, and many new foods, materials and goods. I have brought six Indian people back with me to teach us their ways.King: That’s wonderful news.
Queen: We are glad to see that you made it back safe and sound.
King: We will now name you the “Admiral of the Ocean Sea”!