Columbus Day Lesson Plans, Activities, and Teaching Resources

See also: Indigenous People’s Day - This holiday intends to reframe the narrative around Christopher Columbus’s arrival and discovery of the Americas and instead recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous communities.

What Does Columbus Day Celebrate?

Columbus Day occurs on the second Monday in October. This holiday, commemorating the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, has been unofficially celebrated as early as the 18th century, and became a federal holiday in 1937. Since then, it’s become a topic of controversy with many alternative holidays being proposed since the 1970s.

In 2024, Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 14th.

Which States Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day?

With the image of Christopher Columbus as a heroic explorer being called into question, there has been a movement in some states away from celebrating Columbus Day.

Currently, the following states do not officially celebrate Columbus Day: Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day - also known as Native American Day - has become a holiday often celebrated instead of Columbus Day and celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.

Columbus Day Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Browse our collection of Columbus Day lesson plans, printables, and activities for all grades on this controversial explorer.

You'll find cross-curricular Columbus Day resources for math, art, language arts, and more. Teach your students about the history of this holiday and debunk myths about Christopher Columbus.

Students will learn about the geography and history of the New World as they track this explorer's travels, with mini-lessons for elementary students, fun quizzes, and mapping activities.