The 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas has raised a debate over how historians and teachers should portray this moment in history. Some view Columbus as a hero whose courage helped to provide a foundation for modern civilization in the Americas, while others see him as a villain who exploited indigenous people and set the stage for the further destructive acts of the Europeans who followed him. This mock trial designed either as a 3-day introductory activity, or as a 3-day concluding activity asks students in grades 6-12 to evaluate statements drawn from primary and secondary sources to determine whether or not Columbus should be found guilty of crimes against humanity. In addition to the text of the mock trial, the document lists teacher objectives, student objectives, procedures, materials, and extension activities. Five illustrations and a map are provided, as well as a student evaluation assignment. (23 references) (DB)