Sailing Through History
Audience: Montessori primary and lower-elementary students (ages 5-9). Can adapt to traditional early elementary education.
Objective: Students will identify sailing vessels through history as an introduction to types of ocean going vessels and place them on a time line.
Materials: Teacher-made individual pictures/photos of sailing vessels throughout history; labeled on back with name, century, and brief description of boat use and other interesting information. Separate name labels, time line of centuries, separate descriptive paragraph cards. Note: Microsoft Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia has several pictures/photos with descriptions of the following - dugout canoe, Egyptian Reed Boat, Phoenician Cargo Ship, Roman Warship, Chinese Fishing Boat, Square-Rigger of the 15th century, Caravels of the 18th century, Clipper Ships of the 19th century, Tanker, and Hovercraft.
Procedure: Teacher introduces student(s) to 3 boat pictures from 3 contrasting periods of history. Show a picture, name boat and tell a brief story of the boats' history and it's use. Place name label under picture. Read description of boat and place card under name label. Repeat with other 2 boat pictures. Remove name labels and description cards. Have student(s) read and label pictures with name labels and paragraph cards. Students self-correct by turning picture/photo over to check name and discription. Student(s) make a time line to place boat pictures on. Students self-correct by turning cards over.
Assessment: Teacher observation and student self-correction.
Extension: Student(s) can research more sailing vessels and make their own cards to add to history set.
Lesson plan by Terry Hartnett.