Rethinking Columbus’s Legacy

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 to strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking, and civic understanding through a modern examination of Christopher Columbus’s legacy. Learners read an informational passage explaining why many communities are reevaluating Columbus Day and choosing to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead, then answer questions that explore multiple viewpoints, historical impact, and how interpretations of history can change over time.

Skills Reinforced

• Changing Historical Perspectives (Grades 4-6) – Students examine how views of Columbus’s voyages have evolved.
• Analyzing Multiple Viewpoints – Learners compare traditional narratives with modern perspectives on colonization and its effects.
• Informational Text Comprehension – Encourages careful reading of complex nonfiction text.
• Civic Understanding & Commemoration – Builds awareness of how societies choose to remember and honor history.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to support upper-elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Discussion-Ready Content – Promotes thoughtful classroom conversation and respectful debate.
• Balanced & Age-Appropriate – Presents sensitive historical topics in a clear, accessible way.
• Low-Prep & Printable – Easy to use for classwork, review, or homeschool instruction.

This printable worksheet helps students develop historical awareness and critical thinking by exploring how interpretations of the past can shift over time. By analyzing Columbus’s legacy and learning why some communities honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day, learners practice evaluating perspectives, understanding cultural commemoration, and engaging thoughtfully with history. Ideal for classroom or homeschool use, this activity supports meaningful learning about history, civics, and responsible reflection.

This worksheet is part of our Columbus Day Worksheets collection.