Each October, the anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the United States of America in 1492 is recognized. Although the date is always October 11th, the federal holiday is observed on the second Monday of the month.

Columbus Day Coloring Pages

These free Columbus Day printable coloring sheets are a fun way to introduce a new topic or subject in a gentle way. I like using them with my young learners to help them stay focused while the older ones are discussing a topic. These also double as placemats to use during lunchtime with your young learners!

The Columbus Day Mini Activity Pack includes several colorable images to work on their fine motor skills, as well as some fun word activities for older kids, which makes the free printable mini activity pack a great way to start your unit.

Discovery of America

Because of our family’s faith and religious beliefs, we view history different than most. We teach our children from a Biblical worldview.

Even though I enjoy history, I have never been great at remembering all the dates. However, putting facts to music or making rhymes does wonders! The rhyme, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue” is literally the only way I remember when this event took place. And the date is easy because it happens to be two family members birthday, so between the two, I got it down.

A Mistaken Destination

However, did you know that when Columbus set sail, he was originally in search of Asia, not North America? It seems funny now to think he could be so lost or confused, but sailing by the stars in the vastness of the ocean through storms and nightfall, we are probably lucky he found land at all. 

As he set sail across the Atlantic Ocean with his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, he had high hopes of not only finding a new world, but a passage to China through the waters from the East to the West.

Unfortunately after four attempts, he was unsuccessful in his original mission. However, he did land in the Bahamas, which he thought was the Indies (thus came the term Indians), Dominica, and Jamaica, as well as Central and South America.

And while there is some controversy over whether we should celebrate this day in honor of Christopher Columbus or not, there is some good that came from his discoveries.

Impact on Native Americans

As the wife of a Native American, our family frequently talks about the impact this day had on their heritage and family legacy – where their tribe and people would be if Europeans had not intervened. And while I would love to say we have it all figured out and the answers to make everyone happy, we don’t.

However, we do acknowledge that many improvements and advances among the Native American tribes were made possible because of the routes Columbus took all those years ago. And even though, looking back there are things we find wrong or would do differently, our lives today are only what they are because of and in spite of these discoveries.

We have found it important to open up those lines of communication with our own kids, so that we can talk through history and truly learn from it.

Columbus Day Activity Packs for Kids of All Ages

We love incorporating activity packs into our homeschool studies. They are a great way to keep kids engaged and interested in what you are learning in your homeschool. 

The Columbus Day MEGA activity pack is perfect for kids of all ages. The MEGA Pack includes more than 340 pages of activities from Columbus Day coloring sheets to notebooking pages to playdough mats, to puzzles, and so much more! Grab yours today for just $24.97! Don’t need all the grade levels? No problem! You can choose from our Early Learning BIG Pack or the Elementary BIG Pack and get just what you need.

Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher ColumbusA Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (Picture Book Biography)Christopher Columbus (Step into Reading)You Wouldn’t Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus!Who Was Christopher Columbus?The Story of Christopher Columbus (DK Reader Level 2)First Grade History: All About Christopher ColumbusWhere Do You Think You’re Going, Christopher Columbus?Who Was Christopher Columbus? Biography for Kids 6-8

Free Printable Columbus Day Mini Activity Pack

Whether you’re just looking to introduce the topic or you want to use it as a brief lesson, the Columbus Day Mini Activity Pack is a great addition to your October studies. This packet can also be used as fun placemats for lunch on Columbus Day. 

Let’s take a look at what’s in the free Columbus Day Mini Activity Pack:

• Coloring pages
• Word Search
• How many words? activity
• Write your own poem
• Drawing activity