Goals:

To create an awareness of numerous pirates and their experiences in the Caribbean.

To actively participate in research, using such information as the internet, the library reference area, and other literature for primary and secondary sources.

Content Areas:

Language Arts - communication skills, writing, and research skills

Literature - various readings used to support research

Social Studies - history and background of pirates

Materials:

Possible resource: Encyclopedia Britannica

Procedure: (2 hours)

1) To introduce the various pirates the students will research, a round of "Wheel of Fortune" will be played. The students, in groups of three or four, will have eight puzzles from which to guess. Each puzzle represents a pirate's name. After the puzzles have been solved, the groups can choose which pirate they would like to research based on the descriptions given for each puzzle.

2) The pirates would include: Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Captain Sir Henry Morgan, Black Beard, John Avery, Captain George Lowther, William Kidd, & Calico Jack Rackham

3) An example of the description for a pirate might be:



"Born in London, her widowed mother raised her as a boy, leading a man's life few men on Calico's ship were aware that this pirate was a woman." (Mary Read)


4) The students will then be given the opportunity to research their chosen pirate. Please note the above mentioned internet addresses. Information should include: personal background, place of birth and date, what provoked him/her to be a pirate, attacks, pirate havens, and location (when and where they lived). Also include some particular piece of information that struck you while researching the pirate's life.

5) Students will work on their research project to culminate in a presentation on Day Three. Students will then be assessed on their involvement using the peer evaluation of group work.

Assessment:

To occur on Day Three following the presentations.

This page was submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program