1. Think back to elementary school when you learned about Christopher Columbus. 1. What is he remembered for? 2. Is he considered a hero or villain? 3. Why do you think we see him that way?

2. 1.Using the cover art, from what perspective do you think the book will be told? European or Native? Why? 2.What inferences about the story can you make from the illustrator’s use of black and white? 3.Infer the author’s opinion of European colonization.

3. 1.What do the birds in the illustrations look like? 2.Who might be telling the story? 3.Why is the storyteller calling the tall ships “canoes”? 4.The storyteller indicates that the strangers are different from the native people. How are they different? 5.What do the strangers give the native people? 6.What do the native people give the strangers? 7.Why might the strangers want to touch their golden rings and armbands, but not the people? 8.What do you think the zemis is? 9.What do the white explorers have that they aren’t sharing? 10.Why would the explorers take the native people with them when they sailed away? 11.How were the native people changed as a result of their encounter with the white explorers? 12.Why don’t we know more about the Taino people?

4. Think back to elementary school when you learned about Christopher Columbus. Spend five minutes free writing about Columbus’ influence. Some questions to consider might be: 1. What is he most remembered for? 2. Is he considered a hero or villain? 3. Why do you think we see him that way? You should be writing for the entire five minutes. When the timer goes off, you may stop.

5. 1.Using the cover art, from what perspective do you think the book will be from? European or Native? Why? 2.What inferences about the story can you make from the illustrator’s use of black and white? 3.Infer the author’s opinion of European colonization.

6. 1. Describe the author's point of view. 2. How does the author use imagery to add to the tone of the book? 3. How do the cultural differences between the explorers and the Tainos affect the boy's understanding of certain objects that the explorers bring? 4. What major difference exists between the explorers' gifts and the natives' gifts? 5. How does the author use the image of gold to define the goals of the explorers? 6. How were the native people changed as a result of their encounter with the white explorers?

8. Marco Polo- an Italian merchant who spent over 10 years in China He wrote a book when he returned describing all of the things he had witnessed This book increased the European desire to trade with the East (China, India, etc.) European monarchs wanted to find a water route to these new places Would make shipping goods easier than over land

9. Turn and Talk If you were a monarch asked to fund one of these missions, which one of the following would be the most important question to ask? 1.How much will it cost? 2.What will we get out of this? 3.How quickly can it be done?

10. Once news of the New World was in print, monarchs began racing to find a Northwest Passage Overseas trade route to the east Spain used horses and superior weapons to conquer native people Shipments of gold and silver soon made Spain even richer Used religion to justify their domination of native groups Wiped out natives due to overwork and disease Replaced them with African slaves

11. Other European rulers became jealous of Spain’s wealth France sent their own explorers Never became as populated as New Spain Found wealth fur Established a trading relationship with native tribes

12. As a group, come up with one similarity and one difference between Spanish and French colonization

13. Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch to find a Northwest Passage Reached New York Established a successful fur trade Colony was established and run as a business Welcomed people from other countries and practiced religious toleration

14. England became involved in a series of wars with Spain Wanted to stake a claim for the land and riches of the New World After England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada, Queen Elizabeth I began attempts to colonize the New WorldSpanish Armada First two failed Jamestown (1607) was the first to succeed