Hey there! So, you’re staring at the calendar and realizing Columbus Day is looming, and you’re probably thinking the same thing I do every year: “How do I keep the kids entertained and make sure they’re not just mainlining sugar cubes by 10 AM?”
I’ve been there. More times than I can count. You want the day to be fun, sure, but if they can learn something without realizing it? That’s the parenting jackpot. Whether you’re celebrating the historical figure, the holiday, or just looking for an excuse to do some cool themed projects, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite activities that are equal parts fun and educational. No boring textbook lectures here, I promise. Let’s get into it!
1. Build a Spice Map (That Smells Amazing!)
Forget just coloring in a map. We’re going to engage those little noses. This is one of those activities that sounds messy, but trust me, the engagement level goes through the roof.
What you’ll need:
- A printed outline map of the world (focus on Europe and the Americas).
- Glue sticks.
- Ground spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, paprika.
The Game Plan:
Have your kids color or paint the land masses first. Then, take a small amount of glue and spread it over the “New World” (the Americas). Sprinkle cinnamon or paprika over the glue to represent the spices explorers were searching for.
Why I love it: It sparks a conversation about why explorers like Columbus set sail in the first place. They weren’t just looking for a fun boat ride; they were looking for treasure! And back then, pepper and cinnamon were worth their weight in gold. Every time they smell cinnamon for the next month, they’ll remember why Columbus headed west. It’s a total sensory win.
2. The “Egg-Speriment” (A Nautical Lesson)
Ever wonder how sailors figured out how to carry enough food on those long voyages? Or how an egg stays fresh for months? This little trick blew my kids’ minds.
Grab these items:
- A raw egg.
- A glass jar with a lid (a mason jar works perfectly).
- Salt.
- Water.
Let’s do this:
- Ask your kid: “How do you think sailors kept eggs from spoiling for three months at sea?”
- Fill the jar with water and dissolve as much salt as you can into it (this mimics the density of the sea, but stick with me).
- Gently place the raw egg in the salty water. It will float!
Now for the real lesson: The egg floats because the salt makes the water dense. In history, sailors would pack eggs in barrels of seawater or salt brine. The salt preserved the shell, and the density of the water actually cushioned the egg, stopping it from banging against the side of the barrel and cracking. It’s science and history wrapped into one. Just don’t let them drop the egg. :/
3. Design a “Ship’s Log” and Go on a Backyard Voyage
This is my go-to when the kids have a serious case of the wiggles. We aren’t just learning about history; we’re reliving it.
Here’s how we play:
First, we make the ship’s log. Grab some plain paper, staple it together, and let them decorate the cover. I write prompts inside like:
- Date of entry:
- Weather today:
- Did we see land?
- Creatures spotted:
- Mood of the crew:
Then, we head outside. The playset becomes the mast. The sandbox is a mysterious island. The garden hose is the “edge of the world.” They run around “exploring” and every ten minutes, they have to stop and write an entry in their log.
Pro Tip: Give them a pair of cardboard tube “spyglasses” to look through. It sounds silly, but the immersion is real. My son still talks about the time we “discovered” a giant lizard (a stray iguana) in the bushes.
4. Nautical Snack Time: Make “Sailor’s Hardtack”
Okay, a quick heads-up: this does not taste good. Like, at all. But that’s kind of the point! Making hardtack is the perfect way to show kids just how rough life was on a ship.
The simplest recipe:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon salt
Mix it into a stiff dough, roll it flat (like a cracker), poke some holes in it (these are “bread” holes to let moisture out), and bake at 250°F for about 2 hours. You want it bone-dry.
The moment of truth: Let the kids try it. Watch their faces. 🙂 Explain that this was dinner. It was often infested with weevils (tiny bugs), so sailors would eat it in the dark so they didn’t have to see them. It puts a modern complaint of “but I don’t like this sandwich” into perspective real quick.
5. Myth vs. Fact: The Flat Earth Fallacy
There’s a popular myth that everyone in Columbus’s time thought the world was flat. Let’s clear that up, shall we? This is a great mini-research project for older kids (7-12).
The Activity:
Have your kids look up two things:
- What educated people in the 1400s actually thought about the Earth’s shape. (Spoiler: They knew it was round. The Ancient Greeks had already figured it out.)
- What Columbus actually miscalculated (he thought the world was much smaller than it is, which is why he thought he hit Asia and not a “New World”).
Make a chart: “What People Thought” vs. “What Was True.” It’s a great lesson in how stories change over time and why we need to check our facts. Plus, it makes them look super smart at school the next day. IMO, this is the most important history lesson of the day.
6. Upcycled Cork Ships
Instead of buying a fancy model kit, raid your recycling bin and that dusty wine cork collection you’ve been hoarding. (Just me? Okay.)
Materials:
- Corks (3-4 per ship)
- Rubber bands
- Toothpicks
- Paper for sails
Build it:
Band the corks together to form a raft. Cut a triangle of paper and thread it onto a toothpick. Stick the toothpick into the middle cork.
The fun part: Head to the bathtub or a kiddie pool. Have races. See whose ship can carry the most “cargo” (small rocks or coins) without sinking. It’s engineering, history, and play all in one. And if it sinks? Well, at least you didn’t lose a real carrack.
7. Create a Taino Petroglyph
Let’s be real: focusing only on the European side of the story misses a huge part of history. We need to talk about the people who were already there.
The Focus:
The Taino people were the indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean islands where Columbus landed. They created beautiful art, including petroglyphs (rock carvings).
Activity Time:
Give the kids some air-dry clay or salt dough. Have them flatten it out and, using a stick or the back of a pencil, carve simple Taino-inspired designs. Look up symbols for the sun, frogs, or turtles—animals that were important to them.
The Conversation: While they sculpt, we talk. “What do you think it was like to see the ships for the first time?” It opens up a dialogue about exploration from a different perspective, which is crucial for a well-rounded understanding.
8. Star Navigation 101
How did sailors find their way without GPS? The stars, baby! This is a perfect activity for when the sun goes down.
What to do:
- Find a clear night and lay out a blanket in the yard.
- Find the North Star (Polaris). Show them the Big Dipper and how the two outer stars point right to it.
- Explain that in the Northern Hemisphere, if you know where North is, you can figure out the rest.
Make it stick: Give them a flashlight and have them draw the constellations on the driveway with chalk the next day. It connects the nighttime wonder with a daytime activity, reinforcing that the stars are always there, even when we can’t see them.
9. The Great Supply Race
This is a high-energy game that teaches logistics. You’d be surprised how hard kids think “packing a ship” is… until they try it.
Setup:
Set a timer for 5 minutes. One kid is the “Quartermaster” and the others are “Sailors.” Give them a list of things the ship needs for a 3-month voyage (you can look up a real list online: water barrels, salted meat, biscuits, ropes, etc.).
The Challenge:
They have to “gather” these items from around the house. But here’s the twist: they have to figure out how to carry it all at once. They can’t take 20 trips! They usually end up with armfuls of toys, pillows for “sacks of flour,” and juice boxes for “water.”
Why it rocks: It teaches them about the limited space on a ship and the tough choices captains had to make. Do you bring more food or more weapons? It gets chaotic, but the laughter is worth it. 😉
10. Map Aging with Coffee
If you do a crafty map activity, plain white paper looks boring. Let’s fix that. This is the easiest way to make a map look like an ancient treasure.
Supplies:
- The map they colored/drew.
- A baking sheet.
- Cold coffee.
- A pastry brush or sponge.
The Process:
Lay the map on the baking sheet. “Paint” the entire sheet with coffee. Let it sit for a minute, then blot off the excess. Let it dry. As it dries, the paper will curl at the edges and turn a vintage brown.
The payoff: When it’s dry, they have a map that looks 500 years old. Crumple it up gently for extra texture. My daughter keeps hers pinned to her wall because it looks so cool. It’s the perfect finishing touch to a day of exploration.
So there you have it. Ten ways to turn a random Monday off from school into a day of discovery, creativity, and maybe a little bit of controlled chaos.
You don’t have to be a history buff to pull these off. You just need a little bit of patience and the willingness to get your hands dirty (or covered in coffee grounds). Pick one or two that sound fun, and let the kids lead the way. You might just learn something new yourself.
Happy Exploring! 🚢
