In this month’s newsletter, I have chosen a PIRATE theme. Why? At the end of September, on the 19th, there is a fun day called “Talk Like A Pirate Day”.
During the last week of in-centre tutoring (starting Monday 19th September), we will be talking like pirates. Some of you may question the educational value of this decision. For me, one of the important things for learning is making it fun.
Thus the decision was made. It will not change what we teach. The tutors will have some fun by teaching the children a few pirate phrases to share in their session. The expressions: ‘Shiver me timbers. That be a great effort me heart’ or ‘Arrrr, well done lad/lassie’ will ring out through lessons this week.
Who were the pirates? Daring characters who swooped on treasure ships and returned home with golden cargoes? Brutal sea-thieves who showed no mercy to their victims? Bold adventurers, who paid for travel by theft at sea? In fact, pirates were all these things and more. For centuries, pirates have sailed across the seas and oceans of the world.
Piracy began more than 2000 years ago in Ancient Greece when sea robbers started flocking around trading routes. These sea robbers challenged all those who passed from there and looted them mercilessly.
Organized piracy and privateering was finally ended in the nineteenth century as governments of most countries increased the sea patrols and made piracy punishable by death. However, piracy has not completely disappeared. It is still flourishing from Sumatra to Somalia, and today’s pirates are quite different from the lovable rogues shown in movies such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
7 Fun Facts About Pirates
1. Although Hollywood pirates, such as Jack Sparrow’s friends, like to grumble “arrr” frequently, real pirates were not known to do so.
2. Pirates may have thrown men overboard, but no one was ever known to have “walked the plank”. Again, this one is a Hollywood myth.
3. Pirates pierced their ears, with precious metals like silver and gold, because it was believed that it improved their eyesight.
4. The most successful pirate ever was probably Bartholomew Roberts, known as Black Bart. He captured around 400 ships in the 1720s.
5. Pirates believed that having women on board their ship brought bad luck. Women, therefore, had to disguise themselves as men. However, there have been some extremely powerful women pirates, such as Ching Shih, Anne Bonny and Mary Reed, documented in the history of piracy.
6. They also believed that whistling on a ship would turn the weather stormy. The phrase ‘to whistle up a storm’ owes its origin to this.
7. The Jolly Roger is the most famous pirate flag. The skull and crossbones came from the symbol used in ships’ logs, where it represented death on board.
Teacher’s Tip
Pirates Vocabulary
Pirates don’t use a cultured, elegant, smooth vocalisation – they mutter and growl…
Ahoy: Hi there.
Avast: Stand still and listen
Aye Aye: Yes OK.
Me Hearty: My friend
Shiver Me Timbers: An exclamation of surprise.
Arrr: Can mean anything you want it to 🙂
Monthly Joke
Q: What do you get when you cross a parrot and a shark?
A: A bird that talks your ear off!
Q: What’s a pirate’s favourite letter of the alphabet
A: Arrrr
Q: What do you get when you cross a pie and a rat?
A: A PieRat! (A Pirate)
Q: What has eight legs and eight eyes?
A: Eight pirates
Q: How much did the pirate pay for his hook and peg leg?
A: An arm and a leg
This Month
Pirate Word Search Puzzle
Student of the Month
“Bella really enjoys coming to Kip McGrath. Her maths has improved greatly and she actually enjoys going to maths lessons at school now..”
Regards,
Stef- Bella’s Mum
Award for Outstanding Improvements in Maths
Child-made Holiday Recipe
Pirate Eyeballs
1. Remove the yolk of a hard-boiled egg.
2. Mash it with avocado, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
3. Place half an olive on top
4. Use capsicum for red parts of the eyeball
5. Be creative and replace any ingredients you don’t like.
6.Take some pictures of your creation and share them with us.
