Looking for Christopher Columbus Worksheets?

If so, you’re in the right place! We have created an easy-to-use Christopher Columbus reading passage and comprehension questions. Use this passage to blend reading and Social Studies concepts or assessment over nonfiction reading skills. You could even use it as a Columbus Day activity or introduction to your Age of Exploration Unit.

This reading passage is written at a level suitable for the end-of-1st through the second-grade level. The passage is also followed by a series of questions to check for student understanding.

Grab These Facts about Christopher Columbus!

While researching content to make this famous explorers resource, we discovered quite a few fun facts about famous explorer Christopher Columbus, like

• He never actually landed on the North American mainland, despite being credited with its discovery.
• Three countries refused to back Columbus’ journeys.
• Nina and Pinta weren’t the actual names of two of the ships in his group. The names were given to the ships by the crew members who sailed them.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

In addition to independent student work time, use this worksheet as an activity for:

• Guided reading groups
• Lesson warm-up
• Lesson wrap-up
• Fast finishers 
• Homework assignment
• Whole-class review (via smartboard)

For struggling readers, try the following:

• Provide read-aloud accommodations.
• Allow students to partner read the passage and complete the comprehension check together.
• Pre-teach the vocabulary words related to the passage before reading. 
• Build background before completing by viewing videos and images or discussing prior knowledge on the topic.

For fast finishers, enhance their learning by trying the following:

• Encourage students to read further and make a timeline of the significant events during Columbus’ travels.
• Have students read additional texts or watch videos about Christopher Columbus
• Encourage students to continue exploring history with informative writing prompts. 

Print and Build Your Christopher Columbus Lesson Plans

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete. 

To save paper, we suggest printing this 2-page worksheet double-sided.

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks. 

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This resource was created by Beth Hindi, a teacher in Texas and Teach Starter Collaborator.