Life as a Sailor

(Curriculum Outline)

Note:  Most of these lessons are not intended to be used as a continuous block of instruction.  The lessons should be broken up by the instructor as appropriate into digestible sections.
 

1.  Astronomy (10 hours) - This lesson involves an investigation into both the practical and aesthetic uses of astronomy and connects these uses to life at sea.
 
Literature Used - Poetry, Mythology
Uses Internet
Subjects Covered - Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics
 

2.  At this point, the students will start reading the novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.  Discuss one chapter a day for 1/2 hour in class. (11 hours)

3.  Investigating various types of ships (15 hours) - This lesson introduces students to library research.  It makes use of cooperative learning to give students an understanding of various types of ships and their characteristics, histories, and uses.  It also introduces peer editing.
 
 

Literature Used - Various non-fiction sources
Uses Internet
Subjects Covered - Language Arts,  Social Studies, and Mathematics
 

4.  How to Sail - Boat Lab (6 1/2 hours) - This lesson introduces students to the techniques involved in a laboratory experiment and writing a lab report.  This is accomplished through a look at the involvement of end in sailing.
 

Literature Used - trade book
Subjects Covered - Language Arts and Science
 

5.  Different roles on a ship (7 hours) - This lesson allows students to develop an understanding of the various roles of crew members on a ship based on descriptions from the novel and other non-fiction sources.  Cooperative learning and role playing are involved.
 

Literature Used - trade book, non-fiction sources
Uses Internet
Subjects Covered - Language Arts and Social Studies
 

6.  Negative/positive aspects of life as a sailor (7 hours) - This lesson allows students to investigate the negative and positive aspects of life at sea by participating in a debate on the subject.
 

Literature Used - trade book, non-fiction sources
Uses Internet
Subject Covered - Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics
 

7.  Curriculum summary: a dramatic representation (19 hours on average) - The students write and act out a play on life as a sailor.
 

Literature Used - non-fiction sources, drama
Subjects Covered - Language Arts and Social Studies

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Developed by Tina Huss, Alenne Grabowski, Mike Pable, & Francis M. Redmon

This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program