Pirate Diary

By Richard Platt

Illustrated by Chris Riddell
ISBN: 0763621692

Summary: Ten year old Jake Carpenter leaves the American colony of North Carolina to become a sailor in 1716. His ship, the Greyhound, is captured by pirates, and Jake becomes a member of the pirate company. His pirate adventures and safe return home with his pockets filled with pieces of eight are recorded in this fictional diary.

Note: Please preview this book to decide if it is right for your child; it's authentic pirate and can be crass and gory at times; you need to pre-read to determine what parts you may need to skip, or what parts you need to be ready to discuss; it is not for the weak stomached.

1. Photocopy pp. 4-5, the diagram of the Greyhound. (It may be helpful to enlarge it.) If you choose, you can omit the key from the copy and have your child write the parts of the ship as you go through the study. In addition, you may choose to use the diagram of the Hispaniola Schooner: This second link gives the labels to the numbered parts. If you are doing the lapbooking component, the ship diagram will go into the ship mini-book.

2. Have a map of the Caribbean/West Indies, including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida to record Jake’s travels. This site has a nice, color map which is appropriate. If you are doing the lapbooking component, the map will go into the ship’s log mini-book.

3. Optional. If you want to teach calendar skills, print blank calendars for September 1716 through May 1717. As you read each diary entry, the child can mark the date with an X or write/draw a picture about what happened that day. By the end of the unit study, the calendars will be a great summary tool.

Note: definitions for vocabulary words are for the meaning of the word in context. Some words have multiple meanings. For example yarn is used in the story to mean a tale. The meaning of woolen string is not included in the notes.

Write a yarn or “When-I-was” tale that Uncle Will may have told. It could include sea monsters, mermaids, icebergs, whirlpools, hurricanes, pirates, etc. Your student could also write a yarn that someone older has told him in the past.

I write this on the last day at home, for tomorrow I shall return with my Uncle Will to his ship, the Sally Anne.

Sally Anne is written in italics. Why? (Ship’s names are always written that way.) How can you write in italics when writing by hand? (You can underline to indicate italics. So Sally Anne can also be written as Sally Anne.)

The word for could be substituted with what other word? (Because. In this sentence, for means because. The word for is a coordinating conjunction, joining the two independent clauses.) Remove the for and say the two sentences which for joins. (I write this on the last day at home. Tomorrow I shall return with my Uncle Will to his ship, the Sally Anne.)

Why is Uncle Will capitalized? (It is the title and name of a specific person, a proper noun.) What about this sentence: Tomorrow I shall return with my uncle to his ship. Should uncle be capitalized? (No. This uncle is a common noun, not a name.)

The word shall could be replaced with what word? (Will. Shall is an old fashioned way of saying will.)

Why is there a comma after ship? The Sally Anne is an appositive; it renames ship.

On p. 11 Will says, “Beggars cannot be choosers.” What does this idiom mean? Tell another situation in which you could use this phrase.

Identify the thirteen colonies on a map: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. What does it mean to be a colony? (a territory ruled by a distant state; no independence)

Locate England as well. What ocean is between the colonies and England? (Atlantic)

Holyoak must be a fictional city since it is not on any NC maps. Instead of using it, we can use Raleigh. Calculate the distance between Raleigh, NC and Charleston, SC. In the story, it took Jake and his uncle all day to travel. How long would it take today, riding in a car traveling at 55 mph?

'Twas Friday morn when we set sail,
And we had not got far from land,
When the Captain, he spied a lovely mermaid,
With a comb and a glass in her hand.

Chorus
Oh the ocean waves may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow,
While we poor sailors go skipping aloft
And the land lubbers lay down below, below, below
And the land lubbers lay down below.

Then up spoke the Captain of our gallant ship,
And a jolly old Captain was he;
"I have a wife in Salem town,
But tonight a widow she will be."

Chorus

Then up spoke the Cook of our gallant ship,
And a greasy old Cook was he;
"I care more for my kettles and my pots,
Than I do for the roaring of the sea."

Chorus

Then up spoke the Cabin-boy of our gallant ship,
And a dirty little brat was he;
"I have friends in Boston town
That don't care a ha' penny for me."

Chorus

Then three times 'round went our gallant ship,
And three times 'round went she,
And the third time that she went 'round
She sank to the bottom of the sea.

On p. 11, Jake and his uncle sign their names into a book to join the crew of the Greyhound. Read Phil. 4:3 and Luke 10:17-20. God has His own book in which are the names of His elect. Is your name there?

Make a mini-book to resemble a ship’s log. A one sheet book will be fine. Or use the printable template, Ship's Log Cover. Title it the Greyhound’s Log. Inside make a list of crew members who have signed on to the Greyhound. Sign Will’s and Jake’s name to the book. Think – what is Will’s last name? He is Jake’s father’s brother. (Later you will add more to this book.)

For the lapbooking component, you may want to use this drawing as the cover of your ship shape book instead of using the template.

Yards (p. 13) and companionway (p. 15) are not labeled on the key, but can you find them based on the descriptions? Add them to the Greyhound Key.

Both masts and yards would fall under the category of spars (see vocabulary word below).

Label front (at the anchor), back (at the tiller), left side, and right side of the boat with the nautical words supplied on p. 15.

This was enough to make the Greyhound glide smoothly away from the dock and into the channel.

Greyhound is written in italics. Why? (Ship’s names are always written that way.) How can you write in italics when writing by hand? (You can underline to indicate italics. So Greyhound can also be written as Greyhound.)

What word tells how the Greyhound glided? (smoothly) Smoothly is an adverb because it tells how. Many adverbs end in –ly.

What two phrases tell where it glided? (away from the dock; into the channel) Those two phrases are adverb phrases because they tell where. Adverbs and adverb phrases tell how and where.

What word joins those two adverb phrases? (and) And is a conjunction. A conjunction is a joining word.

This is what? Look back at the story if necessary. The sentence itself does not tell. (the sailors’ unfurling the sail to be filled with wind.)

At Sullivan’s Island, Jake could no longer see the lights from Charleston. Why? (Sullivan’s Island is outside of Charleston harbor.) What body of water did the ship just leave when they entered the ocean? (Charleston harbor) What is a harbor? (An inlet of water protected from the wind and waves used for anchoring boats.) What ocean did the ship enter? (Atlantic) The map can help you answer these questions.

Walk 30 paces to estimate the length of the Greyhound’s upper deck. Then measure it in yards or meters. Looking at your diagram of the Greyhound, where would the mainmast and foremast be located within your 30 paces? Measure in paces four other distances, for example, from your front door to the mailbox, the length of your living room, etc. Record your observations. If your siblings or parents are also doing this experiment, do their measurements match yours? Why not? How accurate are paces for measuring things? Why are standard measurements necessary?

Why does the deck have to be kept wet? (Otherwise the boards shrink apart and let in water.) What is the deck made of? (wood) Why does wood absorb water? (wood is porous – it has many vessels/tubes for absorbing water since the wood is actually from a tree trunk or limb.)

Spend some time studying how plants absorb water through their roots, trunk, and limbs. You can do the classic experiment of putting a celery stalk upright in a glass of water tinted with red or blue food coloring. The color will travel all the way to the leaves over time.

Experiment by soaking craft sticks and/or twigs in water overnight. Compare them to controls that were not soaked. Are the soaked sticks larger? (The change will be slight; and treated wood will absorb less than untreated wood.)

On p. 123 of Sources, the writer and illustrator credit Howard Pyle’s pirate art as inspiration for the pictures in the book. Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates is now in the public domain. From Facing p. 36 is WALKING THE PLANK.

Using your new words from the Greyhound diagram, what parts of the ship can you see?

Point to and use words to describe four different emotions you see portrayed on the men’s faces.

When Jake walked the plank, was he doing what is pictured here? Explain the difference.

Jake learns that a sailor’s life includes much hard labor. Read 2 Thessalonians. 3:7-12 and Proverbs 24:30-34.

Make a boat shape book to hold your Greyhound diagram. If you like, you can put Howard Pyle’s Walking the Plank in your boat book with an explanation of this punishment.

Would you like to climb to the top of the mainmast? Read the description on p. 21 and look at the picture on p. 22. In your paragraph, describe what it would feel like. Hint: use some of your new vocabulary words.

We will return with sugar, molasses, Dutch gin, French brandy, and lace – all contraband.

Why are there four commas in this sentence? (They are used to separate the five items in a series.) What are the items in the series?

Why are Dutch and French capitalized? (They are proper adjectives. They refer to countries.) What country does Dutch refer to? (Holland or The Netherlands)

What is -- called? (A dash. It is used to emphasize or set-off an explanation. Here the word contraband explains what the all of the list is considered.)

Smuggling was how colonists avoided customs taxes levied by England on the imported and exported goods. Read p. 98-100 about the Navigation Acts.

How would the colonists’ perspective on smuggling be different from that of King George? Discuss or use the printable smuggling 2 views PDF-- Smuggling Shutterfold

Locate Jamaica and Martinique (p. 19) on your map. Identify the entire chain of islands that make up the West Indies or Caribbean.

Uncle Will tells Jake that the captain will hold back three months’ wages to keep the sailors from abandoning ship. Practice your multiplication tables with the Pirate x3 math PDF worksheet.

(adapted from http://seasickness.co.uk/) Seasickness happens when the body, inner ear, and eyes all send different signals to the brain. The result is a queasy, nauseated feeling – like you want to throw up. The problem is mostly in the inner ear where there is fluid to help you with balance. Your brain has to adapt to the unfamiliar, constant motion of the ship moving through water. The fluid in the inner ear is constantly moving, and the brain gets confused. When the eyes see cabin walls, barrels, sails, and furniture, it sends the message to the brain that these are stable things. But in fact, they are all pitching about in motion on the sea. Your brain is being told by the vision system that the world is stable, while the inner ear is screaming that it's not. Seasickness will go away after a few days at sea as the body adapts to the new environment.

Experiment with your inner ear by twirling around until you are dizzy. How long does the dizzy sensation continue? Does it stop as soon as you stop twirling? The sensation is caused by the confused messages your brain is receiving from the liquid in the inner ear. Even though you stop twirling, the liquid is still moving. Thus the continued dizzy feelings. Make a model by filling a clear plastic bottle with water and a bit of glitter. Twirl the bottle in your hands and then stop it suddenly. Does the water stop? (No, the glitter keeps moving even after the bottle has stopped. The liquid in your ears is the same.)

Sailors often sang as they did their work. This made it more enjoyable and helped to pass the time. Their songs became known as sea shanties (also seen spelled as chanties).

The word 'shanty' comes from the French word /chanter/, which means 'to sing.' (BTW, the French word is derived from the Latin word 'cantare.') Shanties were used to synchronize the team work of the chores aboard the ship. Shanties are sung in a call-and-response fashion. A main singer, known as the 'shantyman,' sings the verses and then the chorus or refrain is sung by the entire crew. The style is very rhythmic, and a word is usually emphasized during the chorus that corresponded to a heave or a pull. Over time, shanties developed different rhythms to match the different tasks, such as raising the anchor or pulling the ropes.

Different kinds of shanties include:

Capstan Shanties--sailors would walk around the capstan in order to raise the anchor. As they walked, they would stomp their feet in time with the shantyman's song. A well-known capstan shanty was Drunken Sailor.

Halyard Shanties--A halyard is strong rope used to haul on a yard, the wooden extension of the mast to which sails were fastened. The men rest while the shantyman sings the verse, and then the men all haul on the chorus. A popular halyard shanty is 'Blow the Man Down.'

Short Haul or Short Drag Shanties--Difficult or heavy jobs required special short shanties that would require the men to pull once per refrain. 'Paddy Doyle's Boots' is one such shanty for furling the sails.

Pumping Shanties--Many old sailing ships had pumps in the very bottom of the ship to drain out any water that collected there. Working the pumps was very difficult and so special shanties were developed for pumping time. 'Santy Ano' is one example of a pumping shanty.

Being objects essentially made out of wooden planks nailed together, the old sailing ships naturally leaked quite a bit. Pumps were located in the bilge — the very bottom section of a ship — to drain out the water that collected there. This was an arduous task that necessarily had its own shanty to accompany it, like 'Santy Ano':

Ceremonial and Forecastle (also spelled fo'c'sle and pronounced foke-sail) Songs--These songs were similar to shanties, in that a lead man sang the verses and the others would each the refrain, but instead of being sung during chores, they were for special occasions or for entertainment.

(The Contemplator and BBC.co.uk )

Listen to "Blow the Man Down" a halyard shanty (you may need to preview any shanties you want to share with your student; they are pirate songs, so you can expect to hear about drinking and women!).

Here's another halyard shanty: "Haul Away, Joe!" lyrics and music

The Captain deceptively left in the night to avoid paying his debts. Read Acts.5:1-11, another story about people being deceptive.

Use a small shutterfold book to describe the two views of smuggling – that of the King of England and that of the colonists. On the outside left put a map of the colonies; on the outside right put a map of England. Inside each flap write the different perspectives on smuggling. Or use the printable smuggling 2 views PDF--Smuggling Shutterfold .

Make a six page layered book. Title: The Life of a Sailor. Illustrate a hammock (p. 12) for their sleeping quarters. On one page, write and illustrate a sailor’s food (p. 20). On another page describe how their wages are held back (p. 18). More will be added later. Life of a Sailor Layered Book Template

In one paragraph, explain who is in charge of the ship – Noah the navigator or Captain Nick.

To check his sums, Noah finds our latitude: how far we have traveled north or south.

Why are north and south not capitalized? (Used as directions, north and south are not capitalized. But if you are referring to the geographical region the South, you capitalize it. For example: I am from the North, but I now live in the South. To get to my home, travel south on Petersburg Street.)

What is the name of the punctuation after latitude? (colon) What is its purpose? (to set off a clause of explanation) What other form of punctuation could be used there instead? (a dash)

Look at a map and identify latitude lines. These are the lines that run parallel to the equator. The equator is 0 degrees latitude. Latitude is measured in degrees north or south of the equator. Latitude lines, along with longitude lines, can be used to identify any point on the globe. Roughly estimate your present latitude and longitude with a world map. Then check it online. How accurate were you?

Today’s reading introduces the navigator. Below is an outline of the various member of a (pirate) ship’s crew and their jobs. Refer to this throughout the unit study.

"CAPTAIN
Today there are many different misconceptions and myths about buccaneers throughout history. A common misconception made by many people is in the role and authority of the pirate captain. Unlike naval captain’s who were appointed by their respective governments and whose authority was supreme at all times. Most pirate captain’s were democratically elected by the ships crew and could be replaced at any time by a majority vote of the crewmen. For example some captains were voted out and removed for not being as aggressive in the pursuit of prizes as the crew would have liked. And others were abandoned by their crews for being a little too bloodthirsty and brutal. A few were even murdered by their own men. They were expected to be bold and decisive in battle. And also have skill in navigation and seamanship. Above all they had to have the force of personality necessary to hold together such an unruly bunch of seamen.

This left the captain of most pirate ships in a rather precarious position and some were in truth little more than a figurehead. Generally speaking, he was someone the crew would follow if he treated them well and was a fairly successful pirate captain but could be replaced if enough of the men lost confidence in him and felt he wasn’t performing his duties as well as he should. However, despite all this, the captain was frequently looked upon with respect as a knowledgeable leader of men. And the pirate crews historically appeared to have followed his judgment in most matters. There are surprisingly few detailed descriptions of what the pirate captains looked like, and those we do have are rarely flattering. Most seem to have adopted the clothes of naval officers or merchant sea captains, which in this period followed the style of English gentlemen.

QUARTERMASTER
During the Golden Age of Piracy, most British and Anglo-American pirates delegated unusual amounts of authority to the Quartermaster who became almost the Captain’s equal. The Captain retained unlimited authority during battle, but otherwise he was subject to the Quartermaster in many routine matters. The Quartermaster was elected by the crew to represent their interests and he received an extra share of the booty when it was divided. Above all, he protected the Seaman against each other by maintaining order, settling quarrels, and distributing food and other essentials.

Serious crimes were tried by a jury of the crew, but the Quartermaster could punish minor offenses. Only he could flog a seaman after a vote from the Crew. The Quartermaster usually kept the records and account books for the ship. He also took part in all battles and often led the attacks by the boarding parties. If the pirates were successful, he decided what plunder to take. If the pirates decide to keep a captured ship, the Quartermaster often took over as the Captain of that ship.

SAILING MASTER (Navigator)
This was the officer who was in charge of navigation and the sailing of the ship. He directed the course and looked after the maps and instruments necessary for navigation. Since the charts of the era were often inaccurate or nonexistent, his job was a difficult one. It was said a good navigator was worth his weight in gold. He was perhaps the most valued person aboard a ship other than the captain because so much depended upon his skill. Many Sailing Masters had to be forced into pirate service.

BOATSWAIN
The Boatswain supervised the maintenance of the vessel and its supply stores. He was responsible for inspecting the ship and it’s sails and rigging each morning, and reporting their state to the captain. The Boatswain was also in charge of all deck activities, including weighing and dropping anchor, and the handling of the sails.

CARPENTER
The Carpenter was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the wooden hull, masts and yards. He worked under the direction of the ship’s Master and Boatswain. The Carpenter checked the hull regularly, placing oakum between the seams of the planks and wooden plugs on leaks to keep the vessel tight. He was highly skilled in his work which he learned through apprenticeship. Often he would have an assistant whom he in turn trained as a carpenter.

MASTER GUNNER
The Master Gunner was responsible for the ship’s guns and ammunition. This included sifting the powder to keep it dry and prevent it from separating, insuring the cannon balls were kept free of rust, and all weapons were kept in good repair. A knowledgeable Gunner was essential to the crew’s safety and effective use of their weapons.

MATE
On a large ship there was usually more than one Mate aboard. The Mate served as apprentice to the Ship’s Master, Boatswain, Carpenter and Gunner. He took care of the fitting out of the vessel, and examined whether it was sufficiently provided with ropes, pulleys, sails, and all the other rigging that was necessary for the voyage. The Mate took care of hoisting the anchor, and during a voyage he checked the tackle once a day. If he observed anything amiss, he would report it to the ship’s Master. Arriving at a port, the mate caused the cables and anchors to be repaired, and took care of the management of the sails, yards and mooring of the ship.

SAILOR
The common sailor, which was the backbone of the ship, needed to know the rigging and the sails. As well as how to steer the ship and applying it to the purposes of navigation. He needed to know how to read the skies, weather, winds and most importantly the moods of his commanders. Other jobs on the ships were surgeon (for large vessels), cooks and cabin boys. There were many jobs divided up amongst the officers, sometimes one man would perform two functions. Mates who served apprenticeships were expected to fill in or take over positions when sickness or death created an opportunity." Information quoted from this source

When measuring the speed of the Greyhound, Jake counted four knots slip through his hands. That meant the boat was traveling 4 sea miles in an hour. So to figure the actual speed, he had to multiply the number of hours traveled by four. In one day – 24 hours the ship traveled 96 miles. What math problem was used to get that answer? (4 miles x 24 hours= 96 sea miles per day)

The navigator used many instruments to do his job: almanac of navigator’s tables, charts, compass, knots to measure speed, the backstaff to measure latitude.

The backstaff was a great development because before its invention, sailors were looking into the sun to determine latitude with the cross staff, astrolabe, or quadrant. Of course, that’s dangerous for the eyes! And it was also inaccurate. With the backstaff, the user does not have to look into the sun. His eyes are protected, and he gets a more accurate reading. The backstaff was used well into the 18^th century.

How does a compass work? Magnets always point north. Inside a compass is a small magnet that constantly shows the sailors the direction of north. From that, they can also know south, west, and east.

The Usborne Book of Science Activities volume 1 (blue book) pp. 34-5 has an excellent description of compasses.

Experiment with a compass. Find out which walls of your home faces north, south, east, and west.

Or make your own with a magnet: tape a bar magnet into a plastic bowl. Float the bowl in a larger pot or bucket of water. The magnet’s north pole will face towards the north even if you turn the bucket around! Now you have created a compass --not a very portable one, though!

This ballad tells of a battle between Captain Ward, a pirate, and the Rainbow, the ship sent by the king to capture him. You can listen to a midi file at this site.

Come all you gallant seamen bold,
All you that march to drum,
Let's go and look for Captain Ward,
Far on the sea he roams.
He is the biggest robber
That ever you did hear,
there's not been such a robber found
For above this hundred year.

A ship was sailing from the east
And going to the west,
Loaded with silks and satins
And velvets of the best;
But meeting there with Captain Ward,
It was a bad meeting;
He robbed them of all their wealth,
And bid them tell their king.

O then the King proved a ship of noble fame,
She's call'd the Royal Rainbow
If you would have her name;
She was as well provided for
As any ship can be,
Full thirteen hundred men on board
To bear her company.

'Twas eight o'clock in the morning
When they began to fight,
And so they did continue there
Till nine o'clock at night;
Fight on, fight on, says Captain Ward
This sport well pleases me,
For if you fight this month or more,
Your master I will be.

O then the gallant Rainbow, she fired
She fired in vain.
Till six and thirty of her men
All on the deck were slain;
Go home, go home, says Captain Ward
And tell your king for me,
If he reigns king all on the land
Ward will reign king on the sea.

Add to your ship shape book: a navigator’s tools and the members of the crew. If you like you can add the paragraph writing assignment to this mini-book.

Make a cause-effect chain starting with Jake’s losing the bucket overboard and ending with his coming down from the masthead and given a reward of warm soup. Use the Cause and Effect Chain printable if you like.

Why does today have ‘s on it? (Evil acts belongs to today. The apostrophe shows ownership.)

For could be replaced with what other word that would maintain the same meaning? (because. For here is a coordinating conjunction connecting the two independent clauses. What are the two independent clauses—sentences—that the for joins?)

What other ways could you combine those two sentences? Hint: change the order for more options. (They pain me so much that I do not want to write of today’s evil acts. I do not want to write of today’s evil acts since they pain me so much.)

Usborne Book of Knowledge How Things Began has a nice explanation of the history of weapons that would be appropriate.

1. Smallsword: a straight bladed short sword was for dueling and thrusting; weighed about 2 pounds and was 30-40 inches long.

2. Cutlass: this is the weapon of the buccaneers and the stereotypical pirate weapon; the blade is 2 feet, slightly curved with a single edge. It was the favorite weapon of Caribbean pirates in the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

3. Dagger: small knife that could be easily concealed under clothes; they were 12-18 inches long and very useful on the cramped areas of ships where there was no room to wield a sword.

4. Boarding axe: used to climb the wooden sides of a ship, to cut rigging lines for bringing down enemy sails, for chopping in doors and hatches, and for hand to hand combat; the axe weighed about 4 pounds and was 2-3 feet long.

5. Boarding pike: a long spear with a wooden handle and metal point. It is thrown at an opponent.

7. Blunderbuss: a very deadly gun-- could maim or kill several people with a single blast. The blunderbuss weighed between ten and sixteen pounds and was two to three feet in length. It had a large barrel diameter of around two inches. The barrel was flared outward at the end like a funnel. This odd looking flare design was supposed to help give the gun a wider shot pattern. It was truly the crude shotgun type weapon of its time with a wide, short range that could cause havoc on the crowded deck of a ship. One of the major problems with all firearms of this period was that if the gunpowder got wet the gun would not fire correctly. And trying to keep a gun dry aboard a ship at sea could be very difficult.

8. Musket: one of the first small arms with some accuracy. Early muskets used the old matchlock firing mechanism. But these were replaced by the flintlock which was more reliable, especially in the wet conditions aboard ships. The flintlock musket weighed between twelve and eighteen pounds, and was about four to five feet in length. The older matchlock muskets were usually slightly longer and heavier. Although the standard muzzle loaded musket had a smooth-bore barrel, some muskets used a rifled barrel which greatly increased their accuracy at longer range. The musket was not as popular as the musketoon or blunderbuss with pirates because it was not as effective in close range boarding attacks. The musket was used mainly as a long range sniping weapon in calm winds and seas, or against the opposing ship’s crew shortly before boarding began.

9. Pistol: a favorite weapon among pirates for its small size and light weight; ideal for personal defense and for boarding enemy ships. Most fired a single shot and were loaded through the front of the barrel. Reloading was such a lengthy process that pirates would often carry several pistols and various bladed weapons into battle. Blackbeard was known to have carried six pistols, and Bartholomew Roberts was said to wear four pistols. These pistols were sometimes tied to their belts with silk cords to avoid dropping them overboard during a boarding attack. There was a variety of pistol sizes used by the pirates. Some preferred to carry larger ones that weighed around five pounds, and were roughly twelve to eighteen inches in length. Others carried smaller pistols that weighed about four pounds, and were six to ten inches long. These smaller pistols were normally not as accurate as the larger ones and caused less damage. But a pirate could carry more small pistols.

10. Grenade An early form of the hand grenade was in common use by 1700. They were also called powder flasks. The ones used by pirates were normally small hollow ceramic balls with a fuse sticking out. These weighed about two pounds, and were roughly four inches in diameter. The explosive result could cause great bodily damage. Some may have been stuffed with tar and rags to create a fire or smokescreen effect. The grenade’s fuse was lit just before being thrown at the intended target. However, they were not totally reliable, and could present a serious danger to the person using them as well. Source

Ships usually had a flag of some type (a masthead) to identify their nationality. Pirates also used flags to identify themselves. The pirate flag is called the Jolly Roger. Sometimes people call it a “skull and crossbones” flag. But pirate flags were not all identical. Some were red, but most were black. They were designed to be scary. When merchant ships saw the flag, they were terrified by the symbols they saw: skulls, an hourglass (meaning time is running out), skeletons, bones, crossed swords, wings (time is flying away).

Make a graph comparing the weights and measurements of some of the weapons above, Which were longest? Which were lightest? Heaviest?

What is the jug with smoke on p. 36? (Probably a homemade grenade. See the notes about weapons above. The grenade in the book gave the pirates a cover of smoke which confused the Greyhound’s crew and gave the pirates the advantage of surprise.)

Although it can explode, gunpowder’s main use is as a propellant. Gunpowder was invented by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century. Originally, it was made by mixing elemental sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). When the ingredients were carefully ground together, the end result was a powder that was called 'serpentine.' The ingredients tended to require remixing prior to use, so making gunpowder was very dangerous. People who made gunpowder would sometimes add water, wine, or another liquid to reduce this hazard, since a single spark could result in a smoky fire.

Once the serpentine was mixed with a liquid, it could be pushed through a screen to make small pellets, which were then allowed to dry.

To summarize, gun powder consists of a fuel (charcoal or sugar) and an oxidizer (saltpeter or niter), and sulfur, to allow for a stable reaction. The carbon from the charcoal plus oxygen forms carbon dioxide and energy. The reaction would be slow, like a wood fire, except for the oxidizing agent. Carbon in a fire must draw oxygen from the air. Saltpeter provides extra oxygen. Potassium nitrate, sulfur, and carbon react together to form nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases and potassium sulfide. The expanding gases-- nitrogen and carbon dioxide-- provide the propelling action.

Gunpowder tends to produce a lot of smoke, which can impair vision on a battlefield or reduce the visibility of fireworks. Changing the ratio of the ingredients affects the rate at which the gunpowder burns and the amount of smoke that is produced. Source

Rats are rodents which must chew to keep their ever-growing teeth from getting too long. They reproduce quickly and are very adaptable.

The ship’s rat or black rat is Rattus rattus, and is also known as the Black, Roof, or Old English Rat. Ship rats originated in Asia where they are still very common. They were also the dominant rats in Europe right up to the late 18th Century, but they are now rare in Europe.

"Vermin such as rats were a great problem on ships. There was a variety of vermin on board ships. Weevils infested the biscuits in huge numbers. Officers were allowed to re-bake their biscuits to remove the weevils, however the crew were not permitted to do this, so they had to eat them as they were, weevils included. Weevils also infested cereals (oatmeal and wheat). Maggots were in many supplies and also cockroaches, which had a particular liking to ink. Rats however, were a particular problem.

While food was generally kept in wooden barrels, rats were able to gnaw through the wood to reach different decks and the food inside the barrels. They could also bring disease if left unchecked. Rats were a persistent menace to the ship’s food supply and were also known to eat sails, clothing, and even the hard skin from the soles of sailor’s feet while they slept. They could provide meat in desperate times, but caused much damage through the ship" Source

Add this information to the food page of your Life of a Sailor book-- apples (fruit of any kind, actually) were a rare treat.

Make a mini-book on the many different pirate flags. Include the meanings of the symbols. Use the Flag Trifold Template.

Make a mini-book about the weapons used by pirates. A strip book would be a good choice since most of the weapons are long and skinny.

Write one paragraph telling how you would have handled the pirate invasion? Would you welcome them as Noah did or would you disapprove as Bart did. Explain your position with all you know about pirates and the life of a sailor.

What if Jake’s name were moved to the front of the sentence, where would the comma go? (Jake, shall you help me?)

Make up three sentences that use direct address. When you need a comma, just say it. (Mom, please help me. I’m lost, Toto! Why did you, Jake Carpenter, become a pirate?)

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Yarn	8	a tale or story, especially an exaggerated one
Fie	9	for shame!
Finery	9	showy elaborate decoration, especially clothing or jewelry
Glum	9	gloomy, sullen
Mean	10	low quality, shabby, poor
Quay (quayside)	10	a wharf, usually of stone or concrete
Masthead	10	a flag or pennant

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Plank	12	a long, broad, thick board; on a ship this board was laid across the gap between the ship and the dock for crossing over. Also “walking the plank” while out at sea was a punishment (i.e. drowning).
Hoist	13	to raise or lift with a pulley or crane
Rigging	13	sails, masts, and ropes
Spars	13	any pole as a mast or a yard supporting sails on a ship
Reel	15	to sway or stagger; to spin or whirl
Glower	16	to stare with anger
Bollard	16	a strong post

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Contraband	18	smuggled goods forbidden to be exported or imported
Smuggle	18	to bring or take secretly or illegally
Jest	19	joke or taunt
Timber	20	wood for building houses, ships, etc.
Pitch	21	to rise and fall
Sway	21	to swing or move from side to side
Beckon	23	to summon by a gesture

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Navigator	24	see job description in history section below
Flog	26	to beat with a stick or whip
Flinch	26	to draw back or wince as from pain or a blow
Horizon	28	the line where the sky seems to meet the ground (or ocean in this case)
Sum	28	result of adding

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Idle	30	lazy or inactive
Skiff	30	a light rowboat with a sail
Provisions	30	supplies
Yardarm	36	either end of a yard supporting a sail
Treacherous	36	untrustworthy or disloyal
Rogue	36	a scoundrel
Defiantly	37	resisting authority
Captive	37	prisoner

Word	Found on Page	Definition
Anchorage	38	a place to anchor a boat; a port or haven
Boatswain	38	a ship’s petty officer in charge of rigging, deck crew, etc.
Permit	39	allow, let
Opposition	39	resistance or refusal
Weals	39	a mark on the skin left by a blow; a welt
Nuisance	40	irritant, pest
Jerkins	40	closefitting sleeveless jacket
Excess	40	extra, more than is necessary or expected; beyond a reasonable limit
Gunport	41	a whole through which a gun or cannon can be fired.
Maggot	42	wormlike larvae, for example of a fly