Sail & Sing About The Nina, The Pinta, & The Santa Maria

Remind the children that Columbus raised money from the King and Queen of Spain to sail and explore.

He believed that the world was round and wanted to sail to India. In 1492 he sailed the ocean blue on the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria!

Choose a table or other table with four legs that can be turned upside down, and 2-3 children can fit on the table when it is upside down.

Once the table is turned upside down safely, allow the children to help wrap the outside of the legs with paper and tape or a sheet and rubber bands.

*Leave one side where the paper or sheet can easily be open so children can “Get on and off of the ship.”

Ask the children which “ship” they’re creating? It could be the Niña, the Pinta, or the Santa Maria.

Then have them make large white rectangular sails and a flag with paper, markers, and scissors with the boat’s name on the flag.

Tape the sail to the top of a broomstick handle, tape the flag to the middle of the broomstick, and then tape the broomstick to one leg of the “Ship.”

When the “Ship” is complete, have the children get on the “Ship.”

1. Remind them of the rhyme:
   “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He sailed the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.”
2. Challenge them to make this rhyme to a song, with this simple example:
   “In 14 hundred and 92-Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It was the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria!”
3. Encourage them to add words and their own beat or help them find words and a rhythm. Try this complex example:
   “I’m Columbus, hey!… In 1492, I did something no one would do!

   I sailed the ocean blue…woo-hoo!…

   And you can too!

   Get on board the Nina, the Pinta, and the The Santa (hey) Maria…hey, hey!

   Get on the Nina, the Pinta, The Santa Maria…