Fighting Ships

Goals:

To be able to describe the evolution of the warfare of ships throughout history.

To work cooperatively to acquire information on power, maneuverability, weapons, and crew responsibilities.

Content Areas:

Science - technology of warfare

Social Studies - ships used for warfare throughout history

Language Arts - group discussion, decision making, writing skills

Computer Science - internet

Materials:

Hough, Richard. (1969). Fighting Ships. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Overheads showing pictures of fighting ships

Writing materials

Internet access
 

http://www.cms.udel.edu/ships/other_ships.html

http://www50.dt.navy.mil/facilities/

Procedure: (2 hours)

1) Divide the class into groups of 2-3 students.

2) The teacher should introduce the three types of fighting ships discussed in Hough's book: an oar-driven fighting ship, a sailing fighting ship, and a steam fighting ship. Overheads of the pictures of these vessels would help class discussion.

3) Students should brainstorm the ways each of these types of ships fought in battles. What types of weapons were used? How was the boat positioned during battle? What were the responsibilities of different crew members during a battle? How has modern technology advanced the warfare of fighting ships?

4) Student groups should pick a ship from Fighting Ships to research further. Students should use the internet to find more information about their ship. Students will answer the following questions:
 

Which of the three types of fighting ships is your ship?

In what time period did your ship operate?

What country built or operated your ship?

Did your ship have a significant role in any battles?

What weapons were used on your ship?

What are the different responsibilities of crew members during battle?

How many crew members were aboard your fighting ship?

Was your ship sunk?

What were the dimensions of your ship? How big was it?


5) Students must report the information they have gathered to the rest of the class. Students may decide how to best present the information they have acquired.

Assessment:

Individual students can be assessed upon their participation in class discussion. Criteria for success: Discussion Rubric.

Students will earn up to five points for every question answered from Procedure #4 based upon how complete they answered the question.

Extensions:

Make a timeline of the boats researched.

Rewrite history. How might your fighting ship have changed history?

Back to Week 4 - Day 3

Making Waves - written by Jennifer Cannistra, Jamie Hanna, Michael LeRoy, & Kim Mongoven

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