Celebrate Columbus Day with Fun (Free Printable PDFs)

These printable Columbus Day coloring sheets feature a wide variety of engaging scenes and symbols associated with the historic voyage. You’ll discover detailed illustrations of Christopher Columbus, from portraits to depictions of him aboard his ship. The fleet is well-represented with beautiful outlines of the three famous vessels: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María, sailing across the vast ocean waves. Children can also color intricate compass roses, antique globes, and historical maps that evoke the spirit of exploration.

The collection also includes pictures of Queen Isabella of Spain, who sponsored the journey, as well as scenes showing sailors using navigational tools like the astrolabe. Some pages offer simpler designs perfect for younger children, such as individual ships or anchor motifs, while others present more complex tableaus, like the fleet spotting land for the first time. This diverse selection ensures there is a perfect page for every age and skill level, making history accessible and fun for all.

Creative Ideas with Columbus Day Coloring Pages

Turn your finished coloring pages into more than just pictures on the fridge! Here are 20 creative, hands-on activities to extend the fun and learning.

1. Create a Storybook: Color several pages depicting different parts of the voyage. Staple them together in chronological order to create a simple, illustrated storybook.
2. Make Ship Puppets: Color the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María, then carefully cut them out. Tape them to craft sticks for a puppet show reenacting the journey.
3. Design a Diorama: Use a colored page as the backdrop for a shoebox diorama. Add sand for a beach and small toy figures to create a 3D scene.
4. DIY Telescope Craft: After coloring a page, roll it up into a tight tube and secure it with tape. Your kids will have a fun, themed telescope for imaginative play.
5. Historical Greeting Cards: Print the coloring pages at half-size. Color them in, fold them, and write a message inside to create unique cards for friends or family.
6. Laminated Place Mats: Color your favorite scenes and laminate them. They make perfect, easy-to-clean place mats for a themed meal or party.
7. Classroom Timeline: Assign different pages to students. Once colored, arrange them on a classroom wall to create a large visual timeline of the expedition.
8. 3D Paper Ships: Color a ship page, cut it out, and then fold a small strip of cardboard to create a stand on the back, allowing it to stand up on its own.
9. Stained Glass Effect: Color a page with markers. Lightly brush the back of the page with a thin layer of vegetable oil and let it dry. The paper will become translucent and look like stained glass when hung in a window.
10. Custom Map Making: Color a map or globe page. Then, encourage kids to add their own imaginary islands, sea monsters, and treasure chests.
11. Compass Rose Lesson: Color the compass rose page and use it to teach the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West).
12. Decorate a Party Garland: Color and cut out various images like ships, anchors, and compasses. Punch a hole at the top of each and string them together to make a festive garland.
13. Homemade Jigsaw Puzzle: Glue a completed coloring page onto a piece of thin cardboard. Once dry, cut it into unique shapes to create a personalized jigsaw puzzle.
14. History Scavenger Hunt: Use smaller colored pictures as clues. For example, hide a clue "near the globe" and use the colored globe image to mark the spot.
15. Journal or Binder Cover: Decorate the cover of a school notebook or journal by gluing a finished coloring page to the front. Cover with clear contact paper to protect it.
16. Textured Art Project: Add textures to your coloring page. Use cotton balls for clouds, blue glitter for sparkling water, and sand for beaches.
17. Coloring Page Mosaic: Cut up several colored pages into small squares. Use the pieces to create a mosaic of a larger image, like a ship, on a separate piece of paper.
18. "I Spy" Coloring Game: Choose a page with many details. After coloring, take turns playing "I Spy" with different objects and colors in the picture.
19. Voyage Accordion Book: Tape several pieces of paper together to form a long strip. Fold it accordion-style and glue a different colored scene onto each panel to tell a sequential story.
20. Window Decorations: Color a page, then have an adult help you trace the main design onto wax paper. Color the wax paper with crayons and place another sheet on top. An adult can briefly iron it to melt the crayon, creating a vibrant window cling.