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With Columbus Day just around the corner, you may find yourself wondering what exactly to teach about CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS or whether to teach about him at all. If so, don’t worry, you are in good company. Each time fall rolls around, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS becomes a hot topic in the homeschool world. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS is not a cut/dry topic so homeschool moms start asking questions and seeking answers….

Why do we CELEBRATE Columbus Day?

How do you decide WHAT to teach about Columbus?

Should you even BOTHER teaching about Columbus AT ALL?

Should I just IGNORE Columbus altogether since he’s so CONTROVERSIAL?

Did our teachers LIE to US?

Is this all just part of a larger CONSPIRACY?

What else is UNTRUE?

If you have not seen the heated debates, join most any homeschool group on Facebook and enter “CHRISTOPER COLUMBUS” in the search bar. I can just about guarantee that it won’t come up with all warm and fuzzy comments and cute little crafts of ships made with paper and straws.

You’ll see comments that include:

murder, innovative, horrible, brave, awful, corrupt, plague, leader, genocide, life-changer, conspiracy, vilify.

So, with so many conflicting opinions, how do we decide what to teach about COLUMBUS or whether to teach about him at all?

As any seasoned HOMESCHOOL MOM knows, one of the most beautiful benefits of educating our kids at home is that we get to CHOOSE what we teach our kids. But as liberating as that is for some moms, it is also stressful for others {especially the newer homeschool mom.} The responsibility of what, when and how to teach can be felt as a burden and some moms need help in answering those questions above.

I hardly paid attention in my high school history classes {sooooooooooooo boring} and I certainly don’t have a degree in history {I did marry a man with a MA in US History…maybe that counts for something, ha ha} so I won’t pretend to know the answers. But, I will tell you this…

I believe you should teach about COLUMBUS.

What exactly you should teach, I can’t say. That’s up to you. But, I do believe you should teach, in the very least, the basics of COLUMBUS.

Here are three reasons why…

ONE: Columbus is a part of history, whether you like it or not.

Whether you like the man doesn’t matter. The fact remains that CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS was an explorer who ventured west and inadvertently landed in South America. WHY he wanted to explore a western shipping route doesn’t change the fact that he did. WHAT he did when he got there doesn’t change the fact that he got there. HOW he treated the people that he encountered doesn’t change the fact that he brought Europeans with him. You don’t need to celebrate him in order to include him in your history lessons. But, I do believe you should teach about COLUMBUS.

Choosing what to teach in your homeschool is a lovely blessing but it is also an immense responsibility. We don’t get to shy away from all topics that make us uncomfortable. If we did, I would’ve skipped slavery, WW2 and Roe v Wade. But, it’s irresponsible for us to pick and choose to teach only what we like. In the very least, share only the established, meaningful facts and allow your kids to make a judgment call on his character later in life. But, teach about COLUMBUS.

TWO: It would be very hard to teach American history without including Columbus.

Without the inclusion of COLUMBUS in your explanation of the discovery of the New World, I’m not sure how you can present a full picture of American history. It’s undeniable that what COLUMBUS accomplished impacted other explorers which eventually led to the discovery, exploration and development of North America. Could we be sitting here if COLUMBUS had never set sail on the Ocean Blue in the year 1492? I suppose so. God could’ve used somebody else to make that trek. But, the fact remains that God chose COLUMBUS and COLUMBUS played an integral part in the history of our fair nation and it would be disingenuous to teach otherwise. Even if you simply include the most basic facts, you need to teach about COLUMBUS.

THREE: Columbus is the perfect example of God using an imperfect person.

Imperfect men in history are nearly as old as the world itself so cutting out all of their contributions would leave us with nothing. I’m assuming you have heard of Adam? He manages to still hold some merit in the shaping of our earth’s history even though he messed things up pretty quickly. King David? He murdered a man because he lusted after that man’s wife but he still receives a lot of attention for following God’s plans in other ways and making a lasting impact on God’s chosen people.

Let’s turn away from the Bible for a moment and consider other chunks of history. How many of our Founding Fathers were slaveholders? A quick Internet search indicates that there were DOUBLE the number of slaveholding Founding Fathers than not. How many presidents of our own beloved nation have made mistakes in times of war that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives? I can’t even begin to imagine but, without knowing top-secret CIA information, I can just about guarantee that every man that has ever held the position of President of the United States has made mistakes…some of which have resulted in generational-impacting consequences. Should we just pretend they never served as President and ignore their time in history? No, that would give us an incomplete picture of history.

The hard truth is that every man {except one} who has ever walked this earth has done bad things and made major mistakes. With the exception of one, every man who has ever taken a breath has been a sinner. Not one man, except Jesus, has been perfect. The hard truth is, COLUMBUS is in great company. Whether you choose to teach your kids about his human flaws, bad choices and unintended consequences is entirely up to you but I do believe you should teach about COLUMBUS.

What do you think? Do you plan to teach your kids about CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS?

For a very basic explanation of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, check out this fun Rebus Story for early readers.

You can get it free in my store here.

And if you want to cover the voyage of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in more humorous and honest detail, check out

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SHARK WEEK 2020 airs August 9-August 16 on the Discovery Channel

Whether you are a homeschool mom who tries to never let a learning opportunity pass, a public school dad looking for ways to get your kids to stop staring at their electronic devices or a grandma trying to entertain the littles for a week away, SHARK WEEK is the answer to your problem!

Revered in entertainment circles due to its THIRTY-TWO years on the air, SHARK WEEK is also considered a staple among many average households. Chores are put on hold, beach vacations are avoided and memes abound as boatloads of families gather around the TV to enjoy viewing multiple hours of shark-infested waters together.

If your family is not one of them, you need to put your aversions to sharp teeth and killer jaws aside and jump in! “But why,” you might ask, “What can SHARK WEEK do for my family?”

Read on to find out!

ONE: SHARK WEEK Is FUN for the Whole Family!

Even if you don’t consider watching Great Whites and Hammerheads to be a FUN way to spend an evening, there are loads of other ways to turn SHARK WEEK into FUN for everyone!

Singing songs doo-doo-doo-doo-doo!

Break out an old version of the campfire song or find a hip new video version on You Tube! Either way, the song Baby Shark is not only about an entire family of sharks, it is FUN for the Whole Family and will surely make everybody want to dance and sing!

Making shark-shaped quesadillas!

If you were crafty prior to the advent of Pinterest, you can probably come up with some awesome ways to eat your way through SHARK WEEK without any help. But if you’re not naturally crafty {like me}, you can find these uber cute shark quesadillas over at Food Network. You can also find shark cookies, shark pudding cups, shark banana pops, shark cupcakes and a fruit & cheese display with a shark-shaped watermelon. That sure sounds like some yummy FUN for the Whole Family to me!

Wearing shark-themed jammies!

Nothing says FUN for the Whole Family quite like a pajama party! But, not just any pajama party; it needs to be a shark-themed pajama party! Whether you get a classic set from Lands End or a set of full-on shark themed onesie pajamas, there’s a size and style for everyone! Sleep not required!

TWO: SHARK WEEK Is EDUCATIONAL for All Ages!

Some families send their kids to educational camps and academic tutors because they worry about the “summer slide” causing their kids to lose whatever skills they acquired during the school year. Other families aren’t quite as regimented and like to “sneak in” learning opportunities by making available clever toys and games and hoping their kids take the bait. And some families don’t even think twice about learning over the summer and believe that a simple read aloud at night fits the bill. Whatever style of parenting you rock, you should know that SHARK WEEK offers an amazing variety of opportunities that are EDUCATIONAL for All Ages!

Creating shark art projects!

Pinterest abounds with ideas for shark-themed art projects. From rock painting and flip flop wreaths to paper plate pictures and sensory bottles, there truly is something for everyone that I would file under “art EDUCATION“. You can fairly easily paint, draw, cut out and mold sharks because their body form is so simple in design. But, if you have family members that are more advanced and adventurous, Pinterest has loads of ideas including paper mache, watercolor, nail art and more that you can find here.

Building shark models!

As is practically mandatory with all boy households, we have a gazillion Legos in our home that we use for several EDUCATIONAL purposes. I’m sure we’d be able to construct a shark fairly easily with those fun, colorful bricks but making a 3D model that includes an awesome view of a shark’s inner workings brings that EDUCATIONAL benefit to a whole new level! This particular Great White Shark Anatomy Model includes more than 20 separate, easily identifiable body parts and is way less expensive than your typical Lego set.

Learning the science of sharks!

Learning about the science of sharks is not only EDUCATIONAL, it is also fun! Sharks are super cool creatures with really interesting features as this Super Sharks Fact Pack explains {which you can get right here on my site.} You can also snag a Super Sharks Coloring Pack that’s perfect for little ones! If informational text, writing prompts and coloring pages isn’t your idea of EDUCATIONAL fun, you can also find several science projects online including how to make your very own Sharknado and learning how sharks float. Between those three options, there is something EDUCATIONAL for All Ages and abilities!

THREE: SHARK WEEK Is a BONDING Experience!

BONDING over sharp toothed eating machines might seem like an odd suggestion but research shows that the average family spends less than 40 minutes participating in any sort of BONDING EXPERIENCE together each day. So, if cartilage-infused predators is what brings the whole family together, go for it! Your kids won’t forget it and they’ll learn a thing or two along the way.

Reading shark books together!

Just a quick glance over at Amazon will show you that there are hundreds of shark books from which to choose, but when it comes to BONDING with kids, a book that combines facts AND humor is the way to go. We can always depend on The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library to teach our kids some amazing non-fiction facts through humor and rhyme. Where else can you read…

“We never find bones

because sharks don’t have those.

Sharks are made up of cartilage

just like your nose!

Cartilage helps sharks

to turn and to bend

and to move through the water

much faster, my friend!”

You can find Hark! A Shark! here on Amazon along with hundreds of other options. In addition to Amazon, Usborne and More always has amazing non-fiction books that includes at least one shark title.

Visiting an aquarium together!

This BONDING EXPERIENCE obviously requires more time, money and energy than most of our other suggestions. But visiting an aquarium can be a wonderful BONDING EXPERIENCE for all ages. Last year we visited the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco and had a lovely time observing sharks, octopuses, otters and more. Aquariums are usually smallish in size which make them much more feasible for small kids and elderly grandparents alike. Plus, they aren’t as exhausting as outdoor zoos and allow time in the same day for other BONDING EXPERIENCES like lunch, shopping or naps! {We actually managed to attend a SF Giants ball game after our aquarium experience.}

Watching SHARK WEEK together!

This suggestion is obviously not tech-free nor is it hands-on but watching SHARK WEEK together can be a fun BONDING EXPERIENCE nonetheless. Our family has found that when we choose to purposely sit down and watch something together, it can be as much of a BONDING EXPERIENCE as a trip to the zoo or dining out. The key is to not do it haphazardly but rather to be intentional about it. And, if you add in one or two of the above suggestions before/after/during one of the shows, the result will be a FUN, EDUCATIONAL and BONDING EXPERIENCE they’ll never forget!

You can find the entire Shark Week schedule and loads of details here.