Pirates, Pirates, and MORE Pirates!!

Peter and the Starcatchers

So, my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Wilson and her students have been reading Peter and the Starcatchers. She reads it to them as their “read-aloud” and they LOVE it! I tried to not pay too much attention as she was reading it to them, because I knew we would be reading it and I did not want to hear what happens. I must say, after reading the first 95 pages of the book, that I am a fan! I think it is an easy-to-read book for 5th graders, and very age appropriate. Although it is “factual” book, it does give the students an idea of how life was aboard a ship. Peter and the other orphans are so hungry but they are fed disgusting food. One of the meals they are given has worms in it. The book also gives great insight into how pirates of one ship hunt for the treasures on another ship, such as the Wasp. Black Stache will do anything he can to get what he wants, not thinking about any of his crew members, just himself. I think it is really cute that the book includes the relationship between Peter and Molly. It’s one of the few good things to Peter aboard the ship, and so far, she has really helped him out in certain cases. I also like how Molly is able to communicate with the porpoises. I think students will find this really neat and very entertaining. So far, so good!

To see the Character Sketcher of Molly, go to Character Sketcher 2!

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Notes for the Teacher: What If You Met a Pirate questions

Part A

1. Who were the colonists? The colonists were European people living in a region of North America.

2. What are the Navigation Acts? A series of laws that forced the colonists to trade only with England, using English ships with English crews.

3. How did the colonists feel about the Navigation Acts? The colonists did not like the Navigation Acts because these laws forced to accept low prices for the goods they produced.

4. Who were freebooters? They were mostly smugglers, supplying untaxed goods to grateful settlers on the coast of America. Freebooter vessels were welcome visitors to most ports, especially the English colonies in North America.

5.  Describe the relationship between the colonists and the pirates. “When Britain and Spain made peace in 1714, the privateers continued harassing the Spanish, but now illegally, as pirates. Many of the colonists were reluctant to turn their backs on those who had once protected them. They aided the pirates by supplying and repairing their ships. In return, the pirates sold them their booty at reduced prices. This cozy arrangement worked well-until the pirates’ customers tired of their wild manners and violence, and no longer welcomed them in colonial harbors.”

Part B

1. What did you learn about the different kinds of pirates? Viking Raiders: Cruised the North Sea, the Atlantic, and the Baltic from their Scandinavian homeland; traveled in light, fast ships and raided coastal towns and villages as far west as Ireland.; became settlers ad founded peaceful colonies in lands they once plundered.

Privateers: “private men-of war” under King Henry III; issued letter of marque; many did not return  to their peacetime trade after war ended and instead became pirates.

Corsairs: Unique excuse for plunder was religion.

New World Pirates: Plundered the wealth of two great native American peoples, the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico.

Buccaneers: Brutal breed of pirates; named after the “boucan” barbecues on which they smoked their meat; raided Spanish ships with the privateers.

2. Out of all the pirates mentioned in this section, which ones do you find most interesting?  Please explain why. I would have to say that I found the Corsairs to be most interesting because of the motive behind them being pirates. When you think of pirates, you do not really think of religion. However, these pirates used the excuse of religion as to the reason they plundered.

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Double Entry Diaries Section 3

Wanna see the entries for section three? Go to Double Entry Diaries 5!

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Double Entry Diaries Section 1

To look at my double entry diaries for Pirate Diary section 1, feel free to go click on double entry diaries!

To look at What If You Met a Pirate section 1, feel free to look on double entry diaries 2!

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Double Entry Diaries Section 2

To see the double entry diaries for Pirate Diary section 2, feel free to look at double entry diaries 3!

To see the double entry diaries for What If You Met a Pirate, click on double entry diaries 4!

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Double Diary Entry and What If You Met a Pirate?/Pirate Diary.

What two wonderful books these are! The way in which they are written are so much different than a typical book, and I think thats what children will love. Both books include great pictures that I think children will greatly enjoy. Also, in What If You Met a Pirate, the way they label the pictures is a great idea. This allows the students to not only read about these items, but also know where you can find them and more detailed definitions of things. At first the two books may seem rather lengthy compared to some other books we have looked at, but once you get started looking at them and reading them, you find that these books drag you in! Before you know, you’re done reading them, and you really feel like you learned quite a bit of information on pirates. In the book Pirate Diary, it gives children some insight into what a pirates life may have been like. I really think these two books are ones that teacher’s should have in their classroom for their children!

Now, about double diary entries (DED). When I first heard this term, I really did not know what it was or looked like. However, now after I have seen a few examples of double diary entries, I think they are a great idea and very “child friendly.” These allow students to write down the main ideas, quotes, or causes and effects in one column, and in the other column they are free to write their feelings, inferences, and reactions. I feel like these entries allow children to go farther and learn more compared to just a one column entry.

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I Poem on Blackbeard

I am a voyager of the sea

I wonder what my ship crew thinks of me

I hear treasure calling my name

I see the plank waiting to be walked

I want gold, gold, gold

I am a voyager of the sea

I pretend I am the greatest pirate to ever set sail

I feel a hatred towards my enemies

I touch land where I think there is treasure

I worry that I will run into trouble

I cry when I fear troubles with the waters

I am a voyager of the sea

I understand that I am bossy, for I am the master

I say “obey my commands” to my crew

I dream of treasure falling into my hands

I try to always succeed in my findings

I hope my name will become a legacy

I am a voyager of the sea

After looking over the power point and the page on poetry, I must say that I am fan of “I Poetry.” They are such a helpful and beneficial way to get students to learn about a certain character. It forces them to think of themselves of this character, and in return, they learn many important details. Dr. Frye’s I Poem for two voices is such a cute and creative way to write this poem. I like how there are different ways to create and I poem. It is an easy way to compare and contrast two different characters. Not only does this allow students to learn about a specific person, but it also teaches them how to write poetry and actually ENJOY it. I know that when I have a template to go by, it is easier for me to write poetry. I don’t think that giving them the start of each sentence is a bad idea at all, and in fact, some kids need that in order to get started. They are still encouraged to use their imagination, just with a little help. “I Poems” on yourself is also a great way to get children started with poetry. When a child uses examples that describe themselves, it gives them more motivation. Also knowing that it will be shared gets them more eager to participate. Mrs. Wilson, as shown in the power point, used the “I Poem” for Blackbeard as well. I was in the classroom when they were doing this, and I saw for myself how useful these poems are. The children loved it!

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The Not-So-Jolly Roger

This was such a cute book! I loved it, and I know that children will love it! Not only is the story good, but the pictures that go along with it enhance it! I think this book offers a lot of useful information about Blackbeard, but at the same time, includes a little humor that will younger children will find entertaining. I really like how at the end it has a section that tells what the three kids, the “Time Warp Trio”, ended up doing after they returned, which also allows a little bit of humor. The sentence structure is really age appropriate. The sentences are not too short, but not too long. This story keeps young children’s interest, and they want to continue reading it.

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Piratical Workshop

First off, I just want to say how extremely EXCITED that I am that Kelley Wilson is MY intern teacher! We spent alot of time on Friday talking about her Pirate Unit and the articles/workshops that she has worked on with Dr. Frye! Mrs. Wilson is so passionate about everything she does, and I am so stoked that I will be able to watch and participate in the Pirate Unit myself with all her wonderful 4th grade students!!

Now, about the article….I loved it. It is a rather lengthy article, but it includes so much helpful and beneficial information that is important to read it all! Technology and introducing the internet and how it works are GREAT ways to help with the Social Studies content. I believe that this engages the students so much more. Having the unit structured in two units (1. Assisting students on how to use internet resources to gather and organize material, and 2. Having students display, share, and publish their work.) Blogs are important to children because they allow for students to share their work to others besides just the teacher and other classmates!

Social Bookmarking by the teacher is another very important thing. The teachers need to search and find child-friendly websites that the students will be able to comprehend. You can also go back and see the information that each site offered. It is also crucial to find activities that match the content and goals/objectives that you are wanting your students to learn. Including a “navigational” strategy allows students to become familiar with “moving” around the internet. Internet workshops are the way to go because they are all inquiry based! When possible, teachers should model what process of internet workshop with their students. Then students all share their information after they have done their research.

Blogging is key to may activities and units. Blogging allows students to practice their writing, while also sharing information with their classmates. Young students love it when they know their work is going to be seen by others, and this is a type of motivation for them. I saw first-hand the “I” poems that this article talks about. Mrs. Wilson had her 4th graders write “I am” poems on Blackbeard, and it went very well. This article gives several websites to go to that allows students to record and video their poems.

The examples of students poems and artwork at the end of the article are so cute and just show what the finished work can look like after the end of an internet workshop!