1. Instructors: George Crowl
QM-6
Quartermaster
Marlinspike
This PowerPoint is provided for those who may not have appropriate training aids available in a ship or location. This generally follows a companion lesson plan available at I expect you to modify it to fit your situation and teaching style. I am more concerned that Scouts learn than this fit a specific style. I am, however, a fan of the Effective Teaching model. Teaching EDGE is somewhat simplistic in its approach, but that has some advantages.
Note: These lesson plans may also be used for teaching in the ship. For administrative convenience, they cover the entire specific numbered requirement (except one, where Galley is covered separately!). Individual Sea Scout Academy lessons may only cover part of the requirements. Similarly, ships may find that even just a portion of a subrequirement is all that can be done during a particular ship meeting. Adapt these lessons as needed to fit your youth and your situation. Share these plans with your youth who are teaching.
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to re-examine any Sea Scout in any requirement. (Knots are not a good subject to give a pass in.) SSA may schedule only portions of ORD-8.
Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline
6a. Teach the Apprentice, Ordinary, and Able marlinspike seamanship requirements to a crew.
6b. Make an eye splice in double-braided line.
Requirements:
Reference:

3. QM-6a
6a. Teach the Apprentice, Ordinary, and Able marlinspike seamanship requirements to a crew. D

4. Background Teach each set of requirements separately
If you taught Apprentice knots when you were an Ordinary, you may be able to count that.
You don't have to be Able to pass any part or all of this requirement
You don't have to do it over a short time, you can spread it out over months or years
Treat the requirements for each rank separately. You can’t teach all of them effectively at one time. Teach the Apprentice requirements to some Sea Scouts that need to learn it, the Ordinary to perhaps a different set of Sea Scouts, and Able to perhaps a third set. You don’t have to teach them in rapid succession; it could be months or years between those sessions. The Sea Scouts need to see the need to learn. You need to motivate them. The Apprentice knots are essential knots for operating on board ship. Each rank is a higher skill level.A
Treat the requirements for each rank separately. You can’t teach all of them effectively at one time. Teach the Apprentice requirements to some Sea Scouts that need to learn it, the Ordinary to perhaps a different set of Sea Scouts, and Able to perhaps a third set. You don’t have to teach them in rapid succession; it could be months or years between those sessions. The Sea Scouts need to see the need to learn. You need to motivate them. The Apprentice knots are essential knots for operating on board ship. Each rank is a higher skill level.

5. Equipment Needed 1/4” line, large line 1/2”plus Cleat
A labeled knot board would be useful
Lesson plans for APP-6, ORD-6, ABL-6 (as desired)
PowerPoints for APP-6, ORD-6, ABL-6 (as desired)
SSM DVD of knot tying (as desired)
Whipping cord, needle, 3-strand sisal, canvas or sail fabric, various ropes, fire lighter, palm & needle, blocks, fid
When teaching knots, make sure you have small lines (1/4” or so) and large lines (at least ½”). Different colors for some lines help. Tying a square knot with red and green line is more visually persuasive than opposite ends of the same line. Try to find some part of your vessel or landship that can actually use the knots you are teaching. Have the students tie the real thing in the right place. Try some knot games; first competing for accuracy, then as proficiency improves, competing for time.
Identify the material needed for the particular lesson to be taught. The lesson plans identify it by rank, you may not need everthing for every lesson.
If you are not sure of knots, the DVD in the SSM is a good start.
Your ship should lay in a set of supplies for marlinspike instruction. That should include some 6’ lengths of various diameter line. A knot-tying bar or board is very handy. You need a cleat available. You will need splicing fids, some canvas/nylon scrap, sewing twine, and needles. Inventory your materials in advance, make sure you have what you need.
Keep an eye out for the opportunity to teach even just a portion of each requirement as the need arises. Ask to teach. Let your skipper know as you complete each portion of this requirement. Make a note in your book as you do them.
When teaching knots, make sure you have small lines (1/4” or so) and large lines (at least ½”). Different colors for some lines help. Tying a square knot with red and green line is more visually persuasive than opposite ends of the same line. Try to find some part of your vessel or landship that can actually use the knots you are teaching. Have the students tie the real thing in the right place. Try some knot games; first competing for accuracy, then as proficiency improves, competing for time.
Your ship should lay in a set of supplies for marlinspike instruction. That should include some 6’ lengths of various diameter line. A knot-tying bar or board is very handy. You need a cleat available. You will need splicing fids, some canvas/nylon scrap, sewing twine, and needles. Inventory your materials in advance, make sure you have what you need.
Keep an eye out for the opportunity to teach even just a portion of each requirement as the need arises. Ask to teach. Let your skipper know as you complete each portion of this requirement. Make a note in your book as you do them.

6. Teaching EDGE Lacks two things – objectives, motivation
You have to supply both
Objectives – simply put – the requirements
Motivation – why should a Sea Scout want to pass an advancement requirement?
YOU have to provide the motivation – how it will be used, it may be fun to do, whatever will persuade the Scout to do it
Give a pre-test? You may be able to sign them off as complete with part or all of it
Let's discuss the Teaching EDGE method. It is the official BSA method of teaching. First, there a couple things lacking that you must fill in. First, what are your teaching objectives? Well, in BSA rank advancement, the objectives are the rank requirements. So, half your problem is solved, you are teaching the rank requirements for the skill involved.
The second half the problem is how much the Scouts know, and are they willing to learn what they don't know? You may have to give them a pre-test of some kind, or observe they they don't know something they they should, to find out what they don't know. What if their pre-test shows they already know it? Stop teaching, you and they are done! Sign them off! On the other hand, if they don't know it, we now have to persuade them that they do need to know it, so they will be willing to learn it.
Now for the official Teaching EDGE method, and an example.
Explain
Demonstrate
Guide
EnableA
Let's discuss the Teaching EDGE method. It is the official BSA method of teaching. First, there a couple things lacking that you must fill in. First, what are your teaching objectives? Well, in BSA rank advancement, the objectives are the rank requirements. So, half your problem is solved, you are teaching the rank requirements for the skill involved.
The second half the problem is how much the Scouts know, and are they willing to learn what they don't know? You may have to give them a pre-test of some kind, or observe they they don't know something they they should, to find out what they don't know. What if their pre-test shows they already know it? Stop teaching, you and they are done! Sign them off! On the other hand, if they don't know it, we now have to persuade them that they do need to know it, so they will be willing to learn it.

7. Teaching EDGE (2) Four main steps Explain Demonstrate Guide Enable
EDGE is a simple teaching method for relatively simple tasks. It is effective for many Scouting tasks.
Now for the official Teaching EDGE method, and an example.
Explain
Demonstrate
Guide
Enable

8. Explain Need a knot to hold a sail on the boom, or to reef the sail
Needs to be simple and quick to tie
Will hold a strain, can be untied easily
We use reefing ties or short ropes on the boat
We call the knot the square or reef knot
The first step is to explain what needs to be done. We need a knot that will hold a sail on the boom when the sail is either all the way down, or reefed. It needs to be simple to tie, will hold in a strain, and can be untied easily. We can show a sail tie or a reefing line. The knot is the square (reef) knot.
The first step is to explain what needs to be done. We need a knot that will hold a sail on the boom when the sail is either all the way down, or reefed. It needs to be simple to tie, will hold in a strain, and can be untied easily. We can show a sail tie or a reefing line.

9. Demonstrate Show “right over left, left over right”
Make sure Scouts can see your hands
Use big ropes
Use two different colors
Illustrations from SSM, SSPR
Videos from the Internet
The second step is to demonstrate how to tie a square (reef) knot right over left, left over right. Insure the students can see what you are doing. You can have illustrations showing the steps. You can show Internet moving diagrams of a square knot being tied.
SSM = Sea Scout Manual
SSPR = Sea Scout Pocket Reference
The second step is to demonstrate how to tie a square (reef) knot – right over left, left over right. Insure the students can see what you are doing. You can have illustrations showing the steps. You can show Internet moving diagrams of a square knot being tied.

10. Guide Everyone tie “right over left,” check it
Everyone tie “left over right,” check it
Pull knot tight, check it holds
Check for symmetry, each rope parallel to itself
Untie the knot, show it is easy
Teach upsetting a square knot if desired
Re-tie the knot at least five times correctly
Change the rope diameter to something a lot larger or smaller
The third step is to guide the students in tying the square knot themselves. You may start by all the students tying right over left. You stop there and insure that everyone actually did right over left. Then you go on to left over right. Check that everyone did that correctly. Have them pull the knot tight, point out it holds without deforming. Point out it is symmetrical. Point out that the outbound ropes lie paralles to the inbound ropes. Have them untie it to show how easy it is to untie. Have them tie the knot again, perhaps half a dozen times. Then change the diameter of the rope from 1/4”to 5/8” to show the knot is the same, but the motions may be changed slightly.
The third step is to guide the students in tying the square knot themselves. You may start by all the students tying right over left. You stop there and insure that everyone actually did right over left. Then you go on to left over right. Check that everyone did that correctly. Have them pull the knot tight, point out it holds without deforming. Point out it is symmetrical. Point out that the outbound ropes lie paralles to the inbound ropes. Have them untie it to show how easy it is to untie. Have them tie the knot again, perhaps half a dozen times. Then change the diameter of the rope from 1/4” to 5/8”, to show the knot is the same, but the motions may be changed slightly.

11. Enable Have the Scouts tie the knot on the sails of a boat
Where else can they use a square (reef) knot?
HINT: the shoe knot is a square knot leaving the ends long enough to form loops and catch in the knot. If the loops are vertical instead of across the shoe, it is a granny bow, and that is why they come undone!
Fourth, you enable your students to actually tie the square (reef) knot on a boat as you fold the sails at the end of the day's sail. Show other uses of the square knot. Show other uses based on the square knot (such as square bow knots which stay tied on shoes, vs. granny bow knots which don't stay tied). If they know the skill to meet the needs of the requirement, you may pass them on it.A
Fourth, you enable your students to actually tie the square (reef) knot on a boat as you fold the sails at the end of the day's sail. Show other uses of the square knot. Show other uses based on the square knot (such as square bow knots which stay tied on shoes, vs. granny bow knots which don't stay tied). If they know the skill to meet the needs of the requirement, you may pass them on it.
EDGE is a simple teaching method for relatively simple tasks. It is effective for many Scouting tasks.

12. When do You Pass the Scout?
Policies vary between ships
Author's opinion: knots are not ready to be passed until the Scout can pass them without help about a month after they have been instructed. This is a psychomotor skill that needs regular practice to master.
Other skills, perhaps rowing, can be demonstrated by the Scout and passed immediately A

13. QM-6b 6b. Make an eye splice in double-braided line. T
Making an eye splice in double-braided line is a complex task best taught one-on-one. However, two videos and a written set of instructions from Samson Rope are referenced to help you either learn it or help you teach it. I suggest you use the referenced aids and others available on the internet to learn and/or teach this task. Teaching the eye splice in double braided rope is not required for Quartermaster.

14. Questions? A