This topic is one of the ones suggested in the advisory section of the KS1 National Curriculum for history. This does not give it any enhanced status, but it is a topic I would recommend anyway. Not only is there a strong human story, there is also scope to look at world issues, including the use of a globe.
Many of you will want to include him in a broader ‘explorers’ topic, perhaps alongside Neil Armstrong and there are clearly strong, highly relevant, contrasts
between our world view in 1500 compared with that of1969. Because Columbus is now a controversial figure, especially in the context of today’s Black Lives Matter debate and discussions about colonisation, he offers rich opportunities for exploring different perspectives and contrasting interpretations.
Pupils learn important lessons about seeing the impact of his voyages on the native population.
