Teacher tube video – key Q’s Mythical sea monsters

Perhaps you would see creatures and monsters from the deep! This map from 1544 shows such mythical beasts…

Why were some explorers called Pirates and others Privateers? Pirates were people who committed acts of robbery and often violence at sea. They did not have loyalty to any particular country. Pirates have been reported at sea since the 14 th Century! They have a reputation of being ferocious and brutal. The famous Blackbeard started his time at sea as a Privateer before turning to the dark side of piracy! Privateers were really Pirates, but legal ones! During times of war to help with costs, Governments would write a ‘letter of Marque,’ that enabled owners of private ships to prepare them for war and use it to attack enemy ships. Any treasure or ‘booty’ had to be shared with the Royal Treasury. Sometimes Privateers would attack ships that belonged to other countries they were not at war with. Which would you have chosen to be?

Did you know that many pirates were women? The most successful pirate was probably Black Bart. He captured over 400 ships! Blackbeard had the most fearsome reputation. He used to put lighted tapers in his hair that released black smoke! This made him look more fearful! Watch this fun clip about him and his ship.

Why did pirates and privateers visit the galapagos islands? Around the time of the discovery of the ‘New World’ (The Americas) by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Golden Age of Piracy began. The Pope declared that the New World and its riches would be divided between Spain and Portugal. But that left a question - what about other countries in Europe such as France and Great Britain?

Spanish ships began raiding the countries of the South Americas, taking gold and riches from the Aztecs, then from the Incan Empire. Later they would return to Europe in their galleons, which were full of treasure. It was on these return journeys that they were attacked by privateers and pirates from other European nations, and their treasure seized. The Galapagos Islands were ideally placed as a base for raids on treasure laden ships, as they lie off the coast of South America. They were used as a refuge for waiting pirates and privateers. Why did pirates and privateers visit the galapagos islands?

Why didn’t they stay on the islands for very long? Discuss your ideas with your learning partners and then we will share them. Water, water everywhere Water, water everywhere … Except in the Galapagos! Fresh water is difficult to find on the Islands. We need water to survive. This is the main reason explorers only stayed a short time.

Daily life on the islands – food sources, look at extract from book – hn+cook+at+the+galapagos+islands&source=bl&ots=DpMP31eKNf&sig=IXJ7Ol Q7jLR3mB7hM6c35RsGvBQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TL6rVMb5CMnyarfzgrgN&ved=0 CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=john%20cook%20at%20the%20galapagos%20isl ands&f=false Masterchef with pirate What did they eat? Which animals do you think the explorers found to kill and eat?

Tortoises were slow and easy to catch. As they can survive for a year without food and water, they were often taken on board and stored alive to eat later. Sometimes they were turned onto their backs to stop them moving away. Friendly and inquisitive birds were easy to find and kill for a quick meal. As the islands lie in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, they provided a rich variety of fish. As water was difficult to find, cactus pads provided an essential supply of water and food, as the pads can be eaten! The prickly pear cactus is still used today for medicinal and nutritional purposes.

Captain cook and the bachelor’s delight! Read the following extract from a diary Captain Cook wrote during his voyages in the 17 th Century. Here he had landed in the Galapagos. Note the food that they ate and the problem of water.

Captain cook and the bachelor’s delight! Your task! You are the cook on board the bachelor’s delight. Design a daily menu for your captain using the foods that the galapagos islands provided.

Maps and mapping Whilst The Bachelor’s Delight was in Galapagos, one of the crewmen, William Ambrose Cowley charted the first map of the Islands. How do you think this may compare to a modern map? What might you see on a modern map that is not on this one from 1684?

Make your own explorers map

Imagine you are a member of the crew on the Bachelor’s Delight. Write a postcard from the islands explaining what they are like, why you are there, the animals you have seen, the harsh climate, and perhaps some of the strange food you have been eating! OR Write a diary extract as if you were a member of the crew. What would daily life on board the ship be like? Are living conditions hard? What jobs do you have to do? What are the islands like? Do you have to hunt for your food? How do you find water? What does tortoise taste like?! Your turn pirates!