Italian American Heritage Project
The Italian American Heritage Project (IAHP) provides educational resources about Italian American history, heritage,
and culture with a straightforward view on the roles of Italians in American history and culture.
IMMIGRATION
INTERNMENT
STEREOTYPES
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when published with this credit:
Excerpt from the Italian American Heritage Project, ©2018-2024 Janice Therese Mancuso.
Copyright 2018-2024 Janice Therese Mancuso
Contact: jtmancuso@earthlink.net Subject: IAHP
NOW AVAILABLE
The Columbus Letter
On his return to Spain after his first voyage west, Christopher Columbus wrote three letters describing his
exploration of the islands. According to numerous sources, one letter was for the Monarchs of the Spanish Court,
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand; one was addressed to Luis De Sant Angel (Santangel), who helped finance
the voyage; and one to Gabriel Sanchez, treasurer of the Monarchs.
Copies of the letters were made by hand and sent to printers throughout Europe, where the letters were translated
into different languages, copied (again by hand), type-set, printed, and distributed. Passages in the various
versions of the letters are worded differently, and although the passages essentially convey similar messages, they
can be interpreted to have other meanings.
For many years, students have been taught about Columbus through fragments of phrases taken from the letters.
These small sections of words have been used against Columbus to portray him as solely responsible for the
mistreatment of the natives on the islands.
The lesson plans provide learners with a well-rounded approach in determining what Columbus wrote. Students
examine passages from the letters to learn what was reported through the translated editions. In grades 1 to 4,
children learn about Columbus’s account of the people on the islands and how they lived. In grades 5 to 8, children
learn about native culture and some of the reasons why Columbus made the expedition. High school students
analyze the three letters for similarities and differences.
Lesson plans for all grade levels include numerous opportunities for involvement with age-appropriate activities and
varied topics for class discussions. All include PowerPoint presentations for ease in creating a positive and
informative class experience.
The lesson plans – as a Word document with teacher instructions and the accompanying PowerPoint presentation
– are available for download at sharemylesson.com. (No fees to pay, but registration is required.)
What Did Columbus Say?
Grades 1-2 Lesson Plan
Grades 3-4 Lesson Plan
Grades 5-8 Lesson Plan
Decoding the Columbus Letter
Grades 9-12 Lesson Plan
FUTURE LESSON PLANS
From Italian Immigrant to Italian American
Italian Explorers
The Italian Internment
Preserve Your
Italian Heritage
