Scholastic
Columbus Day/Thanksgiving Ships at Sea
Discover the meaning of Columbus Day and/or Thanksgiving by creating art from food. This activity focuses on making edible ships using easy to find food items. The class will investigate the journeys that were taken for either of these...
Curated OER
Stormy Sailing
Students access a website that show portraits of the Tall Ships of Atlantic Canada. They talk about what it might feel like to be on one of the sailing ships in stormy seas. They write diary entries while role playing that they are on...
Curated OER
Sailing Through History
Students research examples of different types of sailing ships, investigating the vessels as well as the politics, economy, and people at the historical time and place the boat was launched. They create displays for a museum exhibit...
Curated OER
Sailing, Sailing
In this Christopher Columbus worksheet, students discuss 3 questions about ships and Christopher Columbus. Students then color the image of the ship.
Curated OER
Down to the Sea in Ships...Really!
Students discuss the travel of ancient sailors and the use of ships. They complete a Venn diagram, and compare and contrasts the two points of view on ancient ship travel.
Curated OER
A Sailing We Will Go!
Fifth graders investigate the journey that Magellan took around the world. Small groups conduct research on a ship that went on Magellan's voyage, write the story of their ship, and create a class dance that demonstrates the route taken...
Curated OER
Westward With the Vikings!
Students identify Norse explorers, considered by many historians to be the earliest Europeans to sail to Newfoundland. Then they recognize the superior craftsmanship of a Viking sailing ship that would have been needed to withstand the...
Scholastic
Voyage on the Mayflower for Grades 6–8
Imagine living in the hold of a sailing ship for 63 days, enduring rough seas and autumn storms. As part of a study of the voyage of the Mayflower, class members examine an online resource that details life about the ship, watch a slide...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Christopher Columbus
Take some time to focus on Christopher Columbus, his three ships, the purpose of his voyage, and the new land he discovered. Pay special attention to the included additional materials, they are the real value in this resource.
Smithsonian Institution
Reflections of the Sea
Students, after listening to a selection of Gulliver's Travels, complete a worksheet about basic terms associated with boats, ships, and sailing. They create flag after researching semaphore flagging systems.
Curated OER
British Colonization
In this British Colonization learning exercise, students respond to 14 different types of questions related to British Colonization of Australia. First, they describe the First Fleet and how many ships were in it. Then, students describe...
Curated OER
Ship of the Line
Students discover boats by researching 18th century ships. For this Naval history lesson, students identify and describe the different components of an 18th century naval ship after researching information on the Internet....
Curated OER
New Ship For the Old World
Students explore the age of sailing in the colonies through role-playing. In groups, they play the role of a business owner, shipbuilder and geographer to complete specific tasks. They participate in an old World trade show to...
Curated OER
Fighting Ships
Students describe the evolution of the warfare of ships throughout history. They work cooperatively to acquire information on power, maneuverability, weapons and crew responsibilities. Students brainstorm the ways each of the ships...
Curated OER
Viking History
Students learn about the history of the Vikings by watching videos, reading books, and writing journal entries pretending they were Vikings. In this Vikings lesson plan, students also make a long ship out of a milk carton.
Curated OER
Mary Ann Patten: Clipper Ship Heroine
Students explore the history of clipper ships and about the historical time frame surrounding the origin of clipper ships. They read historical accounts of voyages and write letters describing the conditions of Mary Patten's voyage.
Curated OER
The Log Book of a Connecticut Slave Trade Ship
Seventh graders investigate the slave trade. In this Middle Passage lesson plan, 7th graders read excerpts of ship logs from Connecticut Slave Trade ships. Students respond to the provided analysis questions based on the logs.
Curated OER
Act-It-Out Columbus Boat
Students investigate the trip Christopher Columbus took to the new world. In this U.S. History lesson, students create a fictional ship from cardboard and construction paper simulating the ship Columbus used to get to the New...
Curated OER
My First Biography: Christopher Columbus Storia Teaching Guide | Scholastic.com
Sail with Christopher Columbus on a biographical reading adventure. Young explorers learn about the life of Sir Columbus as they hone their comprehension skills through guiding questions, shared reading, and fluency practice. Included in...
Curated OER
Welcome Aboard the Newport
High schoolers work in groups to create a book for a museum setting that introduces the tall ship, the Newport, to the public. They conduct research on maritime heritage and examine the responsibilities accociated with sailing.
Curated OER
Mastering the Sea
Students investigate what life was like on early 19th century ships. They participate in a Webquest, explore the website for the movie, 'Master and Commander,' watch movie excerpts, take an interactive tour of a ship, and answer...
Curated OER
Naval Battles in the Age of Sail
Students compare and contrast British and American/Allied naval losses during the American Revolution. They recognize factors affecting the outcome of a naval battle and describe a naval battle from the age of sail.
Curated OER
Tall Ships
Students watch a videotape about a voyage aboard a "tall ship." They watch as young, inexperienced sailors overcome seasickness, fear, and lack of experience and come together as a team to operate the sailing vessel. They discuss the...
Curated OER
Captain John Smith's Shallop
Young explorers, all aboard the shallop to discover how early European explorers would navigate the American coastline to find resources, map terrain, and trade with Native American tribes.