Virginia SOL 1.2.b

Social Studies1st Grade

The Standard

Columbus Day (also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day*) and Yorktown Victory Day

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain what Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day remember, including that Indigenous peoples lived in the Americas before 1492. They also describe the American victory at Yorktown in 1781.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain that Columbus reached the Caribbean, where Indigenous peoples already lived. The student can connect Yorktown with the British surrender and explain why people remember both events.
Common Misconceptions: Students may say Columbus discovered an empty land or landed in Virginia. They may treat Indigenous peoples as one group that existed only in the past. They may confuse Yorktown Victory Day with Veterans Day.
How to Assess It: Give an exit ticket with two prompts: “What does each name, Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, help us remember?” and “What happened at Yorktown?”

Lesson moves

Give pairs two labeled mats and picture cards, then have them sort each card by the October observance it represents.
Ask students to explain why some communities say Columbus Day while others say Indigenous Peoples’ Day, using one fact about each viewpoint.
Play a clue match where students pair cards such as Caribbean landing or British surrender with the correct observance.
Mark the second Monday in October and October 19 on a calendar, then examine a current Yorktown commemoration flyer from a Virginia museum.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.2.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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