Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.

• What challenges are you facing?
• What fears or concerns might you have?
• What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?

Observation Questions

• In what ways did Christopher Columbus exercise diligence to enhance life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for himself and others?
• What did Christopher Columbus understand his identity to be, and how did that affect his efforts to sail for Asia?
• What did Christopher Columbus understand his purpose to be in the events of the late 1400s?

Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.

• What is the historical context of the narrative?
• What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
• How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
• How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
• How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
• What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
• Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
• How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?

• Students will analyze Christopher Columbus’ character as a leader and his diligent actions in leading his sailors against overwhelming obstacles to arrive at San Salvador.
• Students will examine Columbus’ demonstration of diligence.
• Students will understand why diligence is an essential virtue in their own lives.
• Students will act diligently in their own lives to protect freedom.