ABSTRACT
This chapter asks students to reflect on how perspective or point of view influences historical interpretation and leads to controversy. Twenty-two kindergartners and first graders excitedly share their homework assignment—interviews with family members, neighbors, and friends about how people become famous. Some of them wrote their responses independently; others had an adult help them. Abundant resources at appropriate levels made further inquiry possible, and the students found the whole question of fame an interesting one. They enthusiastically set out to learn more about Columbus’ world, to consider why his voyages continued to generate controversy, and to write about his place in history. The overall purpose of this unit is for students to better understand what happens when cultures come in contact, particularly when an established civilization is challenged by those on the margins of empire. Making connections across time periods, or from past to present, are two effective ways of linking the topics of world history to broader patterns.
