Columbus Day - A script for a school holiday

COLUMBUS DAY

(A script for a school holiday)

Characters: Narrator One, Narrator Two, Columbus, the sailors, King of Portugal, King of Spain, Queen of Spain, the messenger, Columbus’s brother, Marco Polo, Townsperson One, Townsperson Two, Townsperson Three.

Narrator One: A sea battle! The ship tipped and rocked. Suddenly it burst into flames. Splash! A spray of salt water flew into the air. A sailor had jumped into the ocean.

Narrator Two: The sailor swam to a floating oar. He gripped it to stay afloat. Although he was miles from the shore he knew he would survive!

All: He wouldn’t give up though others might. He believed in himself when he thought he was right.

Narrator One: This brave sailor was Christopher Columbus.

Columbus: I grew up in Italy. My father was a weaver of cloth. He wanted me to be a weaver, too. But I dreamed to be a sailor. Finally, my father agreed.

Narrator One: Now Christopher Columbus was in the cold ocean water. But he wouldn’t give up.

All: Swimming and floating, working and resting. Swimming and floating, working and resting.

Narrator Two: He did make it safely to the shore. He landed in Portugal. This was lucky for Columbus. His brother lived there.

Columbus’s Brother: I own a map store. I will give Columbus a job making maps.

Narrator One: Columbus talked with sailors who came to the store. He read about explorers like Marco Polo.

Marco Polo: I have travelled east from Italy on land. I have gone to wonderful, faraway places. There places are called the Indies.

Narrator Two: People were thrilled by the riches Marco Polo brought back.

All: Silk and spices. Jewels and gold.

Wonderful things for all to behold.

Columbus: I want those things, too!

Narrator One: Columbus began making a plan to travel to the Indies. He thought about the shape of the Earth.

Columbus: The Earth is round, this much I know.

Would sailing west be the way to go?

Narrator Two: Columbus decided not to go east over land. He would sail west over the ocean!.

Narrator One: But Columbus had some big problems. Most people thought the ocean was too wide to cross.

Townsperson One: It cannot be done!

Townsperson Two: Impossible!

Townsperson Three: The sea is too wide and unknown, they will never come back!

Narrator Two: Sailing west to the Indies would ...