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Pirate science activities: map making

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Pirates sail the seven seas, and they use maps! Pirate science experiments give a learning anchor to so much content! Map making skills are an authentic way to work on scale, symbols, and perspective. This is Part 5 of our pirate science activities: here’s a harbor for ye to try invisible ink, make your own compass, foil boats, and saltwater to freshwater.Map making introduces scale and scaling, latitude and longitude, and time and is a natural topic in teaching science with a pirate theme.

Teaching with a theme works well with organizing science lessons into stations. When you don’t have enough resources for every group of children to do the same lab, stations can be the solution. Using stations is also a great differentiation technique. See Part 1 for my tips for organizing station labs.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.saltwater - 3

This post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Map making instructions

  • Are you a land lubber or a swashbuckler? Look at some maps we use to get places. Try some for indoor places (like a school building or museum) and some for outdoors (such as a highway map or bike route map.) What is the viewpoint? If you are standing on a spot on the map, what would you see? How do you decide the directions on the map?Map making introduces scale and scaling, latitude and longitude, and time and is a natural topic in teaching science with a pirate theme.
  • Many maps are labeled with North, South, East, West. How do you find where North is with a compass? How do you find North if you don’t have a compass?
  • How do maps work on a phone? How does a phone map show you North?map-making-google-terrain
  • Make a drawing of your room. Hide a “treasure” and make the drawing so that someone else could find the treasure.
  • Pirate treasure maps often had directions like “20 paces west from the palm tree.” Are paces a good measurement? Try comparing your stride with someone else. Will you end up in the same location after pacing?
  • Now make a map of your room for marking the treasure. What symbols will you use for objects in the room? How will other people know what these symbols mean? Use graph paper for the map and find a way to show the size of objects and distances using the squares on the graph paper.map-making-graph
  • Now walk an area outside, such as a playground or park. Draw a map with a birds-eye perspective. You may need to use yardsticks or tape measure. If you have a GPS unit (global positioning system), how can this help with creating your map?
  • If you are sailing on a ship in the ocean, how would you draw a map? Do some research on the history of longitude and latitude and how they helped with finding the way across oceans and telling time.pirate-map

Supplies

What is the science?

Content: scale, proportion, developing and using models, interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features

Topographic maps are a method for describing the earth’s surface. These maps can show land and the ocean floor. Maps can be used to show the locations of rivers, lakes, oceans, mountains, and other features of the earth.map-making-satellite

Resource links

Let’s talk story

pirate-scientists

Pirate scientists

Me mateys Kelly and Jen love swashbucklers as much as I do. This is the fifth in a series of science ideas for pirate theme we put together. Here’s some of our pirate inspiration: Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance, Pirates of the Carribean, The Pirate Queen, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

In North Carolina, Blackbeard be “our” pirate (other states claim the lad, too!) Along with science, you can tie pirates to social studies. Other famous pirates: Barbarossa, Thomas Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Charlotte de Berry, Sir Henry Morgan, Black Bart, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Jean Lafitte, and Grace O’Malley.

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] casabouquet[dot]com.

 

 

 

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Related posts

Pirates make a telescope Pirates turn saltwater to freshwater Pirate foil boats

Pirate science activities: make a telescope

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How can you call “Land Ho!” if you don’t have a telescope to see the land? Pirate science experiments give a learning anchor to so much content! Make a telescope as an authentic way to work on lenses, refraction, and wave behavior. This is Part 6 of our pirate science activities: here’s a harbor for ye to try invisible ink, make your own compass, foil boats, saltwater to freshwater, and map making.Make a telescope to introduce optics, light, and lenses and is a natural topic in teaching science with a pirate theme.

Teaching with a theme works well with organizing science lessons into stations. When you don’t have enough resources for every group of children to do the same lab, stations can be the solution. Using stations is also a great differentiation technique. See Part 1 for my tips for organizing station labs.How to make invisible ink is part of pirate science activities. Science ideas for pirate theme and secret codes for kids for classroom learning stations!

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

This post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Make a telescope instructions

  • Before purchasing lenses, I measured the diameter of the opening on my paper towel tube and I got 38 mm.telescope-diameter
  • Roll up your cardstock or construction paper tightly. Insert into the paper towel tube and release it so it just fits. Tape the cardstock. Tape the 150 mm lens to the end of the cardstock tube. (I used washi tape for these photos so you can see, but it is probably better to use clear tape.)telescope-roll-card telescope-lenses Make a telescope to introduce optics, light, and lenses and is a natural topic in teaching science with a pirate theme.
  • Tape the 500 mm lens to the end of the paper towel tube.telescope-lens
  • Insert the cardstock tube into the paper towel tube. Slide the tube back and forth while looking through the smaller lens at something in the distance. What does the image look like? What is the total length of your telescope when the object is in focus? Does this length change when you look at another object at a different distance? Is the length the same for different people?

Try using the telescope lens equations to find what length tube and focal length lenses you could use to make a more powerful telescope.

Supplies

What is the science?

Content: waves, optics, light reflecting from objects, light transmitted through materials, focal length

Lenses are in our eyes and are used for cameras, projectors, microscopes and telescopes. Light rays from an object pass through a lens and are bent. An image is formed at the spot where these rays converge. A really good experiment to help understand this is to use a burning candle (or a mini Mag-Lite with the top removed, so it looks like a candle) and a lens and piece of paper to “catch” the image.telescope-mini-mag telescope-mag-candle telescope-lens-image

Resource links

Let’s talk story

pirate-scientists

Pirate scientists

Me mateys Kelly and Jen love swashbucklers as much as I do. This is the sixth in a series of science ideas for pirate theme we put together. Here’s some of our pirate inspiration: Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance, Pirates of the Carribean, The Pirate Queen, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

In North Carolina, Blackbeard be “our” pirate (other states claim the lad, too!) Along with science, you can tie pirates to social studies. Other famous pirates: Barbarossa, Thomas Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Charlotte de Berry, Sir Henry Morgan, Black Bart, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Jean Lafitte, and Grace O’Malley.

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

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Pirate science activities: saltwater into freshwater

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Shiver me timbers! Teaching pirate science experiments is fun and exciting! Fresh water for a long ocean voyage is a precious commodity and making saltwater into freshwater is an important environmental topic. This is Part 4 of our pirate science activities: drop anchor and try invisible ink, make your own compass, and foil boats.Make saltwater into freshwater introduces distillation and water cycle and is a natural topic in teaching science with a pirate theme.

Teaching with a theme works well with organizing science lessons into stations. When you don’t have enough resources for every group of children to do the same lab, stations can be the solution. Using stations is also a great differentiation technique. See Part 1 for my tips for organizing station labs.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Use eye and heat protection. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

This post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Saltwater into freshwater instructions

  • saltwater-suppliesPirates sail the seven seas! Begin by making your own seawater (if you don’t have ocean water available). Add 1 tbsp (15 cc) to 2 cups (500 ml) of water you will use for this experiment.
  • You will need a nice sunny day. Place your bowl outside or in a very sunny window. Place the jar in the center of the bowl. Fill the bowl around the jar with your saltwater. Pour slowly and make sure the jar does not float. Make sure that no seawater goes in the jar. Make sure that the jar does not tip over. (You may need to put something heavy in the jar).saltwater - 3
  • Cover the pot with plastic wrap, making sure it is sealed very well around the edges of the bowl. Gently press down in the center of the wrap so it dips down. Do not push so hard that it breaks the plastic wrap. The dip should be over the mouth of the jar. Use large rubber bands to make sure the wrap is tight.saltwater-setup
  • Allow the sun to do its work for at least 4 hours. As the water evaporates from the saltwater, where will it go?
  • Carefully remove the plastic wrap, allowing any water drops to fall into the jar. How much freshwater did you make?

What countries get their freshwater from desalination? Why is this necessary?

Note: I do not recommend doing this experiment by boiling the saltwater on the stove with foil instead of plastic wrap. You might not be able to see the saltwater boiling and you could set up a situation with too much pressure in the pot.

Supplies

What is the science?

Content: solubility, distillation, water cycle

Ocean water is 35,000 parts per million salt to water. This is a weight to volume measure, which translates to 133 g of NaCl (salt) per gallon of water. If you are able to get enough water to evaporate from your saltwater, you should begin to see salt in the bowl. When saltwater is heated by the sun, only water evaporates. On earth, water evaporates from the ocean and eventually falls to earth as rainwater.

Challenge question: Can you find how to calculate how many tablespoons are equivalent to 133g of salt?pirates - 6

Resource links

Let’s talk story

pirate-scientists

Pirate scientists

Me mateys Kelly and Jen love swashbucklers as much as I do. This is the fourth in a series of science ideas for pirate theme we put together. Here’s some of our pirate inspiration: Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance, Pirates of the Carribean, The Pirate Queen, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

In North Carolina, Blackbeard be “our” pirate (other states claim the lad, too!) Along with science, you can tie pirates to social studies. Other famous pirates: Barbarossa, Thomas Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Charlotte de Berry, Sir Henry Morgan, Black Bart, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Jean Lafitte, and Grace O’Malley.

 

 

horizontal bar with plumeria

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

Pirate science activities: Foil boats

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Ahoy there! Teaching science with a pirate theme is fun and exciting! Boats are a natural topic in pirate science lessons and foil boats introduce density and buoyancy. This is Part 3 of our pirate science activities: drop anchor and try invisible ink and make your own compass.Teaching science with a pirate theme includes foil boats as a natural topic to introduce density and buoyancy with aluminum foil boat design.

Teaching with a theme works well with organizing science lessons into stations. When you don’t have enough resources for every group of children to do the same lab, stations can be the solution. Using stations is also a great differentiation technique. See Part 1 for my tips for organizing station labs.pirate-potato-head

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

This post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Foil boats instructions

  • Cut squares of aluminum foil 12 inches x 12 inches.float-boat-cut-foil
  • Measure the top opening of your water container. Design boats that will fit in the container. Fold and/or cut the foil to make your boats. Use tape if necessary.

 

 

 

 

  • Fill each boat with rice. Make sure the rice is level and even with the top sides of each boat.float-boat-rice-fill
  • Find the volume of each boat: carefully pour the rice into a measuring cup. You may have to do this more than once and add the measurements together to get the total volume of rice. How many milliliters of rice does each boat hold? Why is this equivalent to cubic centimeters?float-boat-measure-rice
  • Place each boat in the water. Does it float? Write your observations.
  • Carefully place pennies in the boat. How many does it take to sink your boat? Write down the number your boat holds just before it sinks. Use dry pennies for each boat you are testing.

Each penny has a mass of about 2.5 g (if you have a balance, you can check this). Find the density of each boat: Find the mass of your cargo by multiplying the number of pennies times 2.5. Density is mass divided by volume.

What is the density of water in g/cm3? How does this compare to the density of your boats?

Pirates sail the seven seas! Try the experiment again with salt added to the water. Add 1 tbsp (15 cc) to 2 cups (500 ml) of water in your container.  How is it different from fresh water?

Extensions

  1. With a large tub of water, place one can of Diet Coke and one can of Coke in the water. What happens? Calculate the density and buoyancy and explain. Try different sodas with different sweeteners. Observe and explain.
  2. Use empty 8 ounce milk cartons and duct tape to make a boat large enough to float a 2 liter bottle filled with sand. You will need a pool or large amount of water to test this out. Can you design a boat with gallon milk bottles that would hold you without sinking?pirates-lottie-doll

Supplies

What is the science?

Content: engineering design, forces and interactions, density, buoyancy, fluids, Archimede’s Principle

To float, an object has to be less dense than the water it’s in. This can be confusing because the floating object can be made of a substance that is heavier than water. Density is not the same as weight! A boat full of air can float because its calculated density is the mass of the entire boat with air divided by the volume. This number would be very different if the boat is full of metal or water. Buoyant force points upward while the force of gravity points down. An object will float when the buoyant force is larger than the object’s gravitational force.  pirate-pete

Resource links

Let’s talk story

pirate-scientists

Pirate scientists

Me mateys Kelly and Jen love pirates as much as I do. This is the third in a series of science ideas for pirate theme we put together. Here’s some of our pirate inspiration: Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance, Pirates of the Carribean, The Pirate Queen, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

In North Carolina, Blackbeard is “our” pirate (other states claim him, too!) Along with science, you can tie pirates to social studies. Other famous pirates: Barbarossa, Thomas Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Charlotte de Berry, Sir Henry Morgan, Black Bart, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Jean Lafitte, and Grace O’Malley.

 

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

horizontal bar with plumeria

Pirate science activities: Invisible ink

by 1 Comment

A pirate theme is exciting for teaching science lessons. Swashbuckling and salty talk will add to the fun of pirate science activities. Invisible ink can make secret messages for kids while introducing some chemistry. [Be sure to check out compasses in Part 1 of pirate science experiments.]How to make invisible ink is part of pirate science activities. Science ideas for pirate theme and secret codes for kids for classroom learning stations!

Teaching with a theme works well with organizing science lessons into stations. When you don’t have enough resources for every group of children to do the same lab, stations can be the solution. Using stations is also a great differentiation technique. See Part 1 for my tips for organizing station labs.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. This experiment uses a weak acid and base. Safety goggles should be used. Avoid eye contact and wash hands thoroughly. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

This post contains affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.ink-supplies

Invisible ink instructions

  • Start with one tablespoon of baking soda. Add 1 tbsp of water and mix.
  • Write a message on a piece of white paper by dipping a writing tool in the mixture and “painting” the words. (Cotton swab, toothpick, or paintbrush will work.) Let the invisible ink dry.ink-message
  • Now you will need to give the message to someone to read. They will need a way to make the message appear.
  • Use a lamp with an incandescent light bulb as a heat source. What color does the “ink” become? How long does it take to for the message to show? [With adult supervision, you may want to try an iron.]
  • Write another message on a clean sheet of paper and allow it to dry. Use some grape juice concentrate and paint the paper with the juice. What color is the message? What color is the painted paper?

What does the heat do to the baking soda to make it appear? Grape juice is a weak acid and baking soda is a base. What is the juice and baking soda reaction? What other substances can you try to make the message and make the message appear? Can you find the pH of these different substances?

Supplies

  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Grape juice concentrate
  • Paintbrushes (small round and large flat)
  • Cotton swabs or toothpicks
  • Small dish or cup
  • Tablespoon
  • Incandescent light bulb
    • iron could be more successful
  • Other juices (acids): orange, lemon, apple
  • Other bases: soap, ammonia, antacids
  • pH paper or Vernier LabQuest with pH Sensor
  • paper or notebook for recording results, penpirates - 6

What is the science?

Content: matter and its interactions, conservation of atoms, conservation of mass, acids and bases, oxidation

C4H6O6 + 2 NaHCO3 → Na2C4H4O6 + 2 CO2 + 2 H2O

The main acid in ripe grapes is tartaric acid. Tartaric acid with baking soda makes sodium tartrate, carbon dioxide, and water. When grape juice is painted on the paper with baking soda writing, the grape juice reacts with the baking soda. If you try the experiment with lemon juice, the main acid is citric acid. These compounds all contain carbon. When heated, the carbon is released and can oxidize in a reaction with the air.pirates - 1

Resource links

Let’s talk story

pirate-scientists

pirate scientists

My friends Kelly and Jen love pirates as much as I do. This is the second in a series of pirate labs we put together. Here’s some of our pirate inspiration: Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance, Pirates of the Carribean, The Pirate Queen, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

In North Carolina, Blackbeard is “our” pirate (other states claim him, too!) Along with science, you can tie pirates to social studies. Other famous pirates: Barbarossa, Thomas Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Charlotte de Berry, Sir Henry Morgan, Black Bart, Stede Bonnet, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Jean Lafitte, and Grace O’Malley.horizontal bar with plumeria

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.