Pirate Lessons That Aren't Just History

While piracy may seem like a thing of the past, sometimes we get a reminder that modern day pirates are still out there, boarding ships, and taking hostages. Even though the chances of encountering a pirate in real life are slim, students may find the connection to recent events an interesting way to begin lessons about these unique type of mariners.

Students may first be interested in learning about the history of piracy. Pirates have been wreaking havoc since at least the 14th Century B.C. At that time, pirates were concentrated along the coast of what is now Turkey. Pirates during the time of the Roman Empire even reportedly took Julius Caesar hostage. Not such a good idea. He retaliated with the force of the Roman Navy.

Piracy is an outgrowth of the economic and political realities of the time, and has gained in popularity at various crucial periods. Soon after Columbus' voyage to the New World, European countries, upset with Spain's newly found fortune, hired privateers to steal Spanish ships and goods. This created a legal way for sailors to become rich. When these European countries made peace with Spain, privateering became illegal, and some of these sailors turned to piracy. There was what is called the "Golden Age" of piracy when such people as Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Calico Jack, and Anne Bonny became legends.

As soon as you start browsing through pirate lesson plans, you'll find that there are a variety of ways to cover the subject. You can focus on a particular pirate, like Blackbeard, teach your students how archaelogists find sunken pirate boats, or read "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. You can also teach students about map reading, geography, or the reasons piracy has flourished at certain times in history. The subject also lends itself to extension activities that include learning about ships, nautical equipment, and navigation at sea. The possibilities are endless.

Elementary Pirate Lesson Plans:

Avast ye mateys- Learning about Blackbeard the Pirate : This lesson provides a great way to help students learn about historic piracy. Students complete a scavenger hunt in which they answer questions about Blackbeard. The lesson comes with a list of books related to pirates, and links to websites with information. The scavenger hunt is well put together and interesting. A great way to begin a pirate discussion.

Treasure Island: In this series of lessons (under fourth grade literature) students learn about prirates through reading the book "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Students learn about geography, history, and common sayings found in the book. This lesson can provide a way to read a great book, and connect the information to current events.

Elementary/Secondary Pirate Lesson Plans:

Ahoy! Pirates in Florida and the Caribbean: This lesson provides a great way to have students learn about pirates. The links to information are terrific. You could spend a lot of time at each of these sites, and learn a ton. I particularly enjoyed the link to Pirate Soul Museum in Key West, Florida. The lesson comes with a list of questions for students to answer, and other activites.

Pirate Archaelogy: In this lesson students discuss the history of piracy, and where sunken ships might be found. Since everyone can be enticed by the allure of sunkun treasure, this lesson provides a great way to get students interested in geography, archaeology, and history.

Pirates of the Past: Treasure Island: In this lesson students read "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson and learn about pirates. The lesson comes with a list of books that can be used to learn about the history of piracy.

Secondary Pirate Lesson Plans:

Pirate Wanted Poster: Students create a wanted poster using words to describe pirates. This lesson encourages students to be creative, and use technology in developing their product. It's a motivating way to teach students about pirates.

Piracy: A Continuing Problem: In this lesson students compare the golden age of piracy to pirates today. They talk about the historical reasons for piracy, and discuss why pirates still exist. This is a good way to connect history to current affairs.