Pirate Project

David Balfour gets kidnapped by Hoseason, a pirate friend of David's uncle, Ebeneazer Balfour. David spent several days on a ship with Hoseason and his crew. He became a cabin boy aboard the ship Covenant.

You are a cabin boy on a pirate ship. What is it like to be a crew member on a pirate ship? What is it like to be a pirate?

  1. Each Pirate team will create a scaled map (using ratios and proportions) of the world. (See Maps and Mazes by Gillian Chapman & Pam Robson for ideas.) The maps must include the following:
    • The seven oceans
    • The seven continents
    • Early colonial sailing trade routes between Europe and the Americas
  2. Each Pirate team will write a paper about pirates. The paper must include the following:
    • A history of pirates which can be found on the Internet at http://www.cac.org.uk/pirates/pirates.htm
    • A distinction between pirates, privateers and buccaneers
    • The pirates' lifestyle on land and sea
    • The type of food the pirates ate
    • Their code of conduct
    • Information regarding weapons, treasure and their ships
  3. Each team will research a famous pirate: William Kidd or Sam Bellamy. They will create a display that represents their pirate and write a brief history of their pirate. The display will include the following:
    • The name of the pirate's ships and the ship's flag (If possible)
    • The pirate's birth date, life history including what led him to become a pirate and how and when the pirate died
    • A map plotting the routes of where the pirate sailed
  4. Each pirate team member must do one of the following individual tasks:
    • Research and create a display showing three forms of weaponry used by pirates.
    • Write five ship log entries written by William Kidd or Sam Bellamy.
    • Research and display three pirate flags. Allow students to create their own pirate flag. Students must describe the meanings of its symbols and colors.
    • Do a role play. You are the newest member of William Kidd's or Sam Bellamy's ship. What is your name and what do you do? Write a journal entry describing you first adventure as a crew member.
    • Research and make a model of a famous pirate ship. Use recyclable items to make the ship.
  5. Each team member will keep a personal journal or log of progress towards completion of the team project. Each team member will include individual and team work that is completed, stories of successes and failures and any other information they want to share with the teacher.
  6. Each team member will assess other team members in their group. (See Team Member Assessment Rubric)

Possible Resources:

  1. Information regarding pirates can be found on the Internet at http://www.cac.org.uk/pirates/pirates.htm
  2. Pirates: Fact and Fiction by David Cordingly and John Falconer (Collins & Brown Ltd., 1992)
  3. Pirates by Karen McWilliams (Franklin Watts, 1989)
  4. Eyewitness Books: Pirates by Richard Platt (Alfred A. Knopf, 1994)
  5. Pirates by Rachel Wright (Franklin Watts, 1991)
  6. The Seafarers: The Pirates by Douglas Botting (Time-Life Books, 1978)
  7. Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly (Random House, 1995)
  8. Captain Kidd and the War Against the Pirates by Robert C. Ritchie (Harvard University Press, 1986)

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Mercant Seamen, Pirates and the Anglo-American Maritime World, 1700-1750 by Marcus Rediker

 

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Scotland and Pirates Lesson

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