Every year on September 19th, people around the world celebrate “International Talk Like A Pirate Day”. This Remarkable Idea includes activities students can participate in and have fun celebrating this wacky day with a wide range of activities that will engage all learners.
This activity addresses:
- Team-work
- Social skills
- Sensory engagement
- Cause and effect
- Following multi-step directions
- Alternative methods of access
What you need:
Pirate Ships
- Small milk cartons
- Straws
- Hole punch
- Tape/Glue
- Construction paper
- Battery Operated Scissors
Ship Race
- Aluminum tray/gutter with end caps/Rubbermaid tub (for racing area)
- Water
- Blue food coloring (optional)
- Fan
- Jelly Bean switch
- PowerLink 4
Treasure Hunt
- TalkingBrix with X taped to the top
- Treasure Map
- Treasure
Pirate Parrrty
Pirate themed snacks could include: Chips Ahoy, Goldfish crackers, Sand buckets (vanilla pudding topped with crushed butter cookies or golden Oreos), gold chocolate coins, seawater (blue or green juice), etc.
Preparation:
1. Record clues for the treasure hunt onto the TalkingBrix. Place one at the X location on the treasure map which gives students a clue to the next location, place the next TalkingBrix with the next clue at that location (repeat as appropriate).
2. Create overlays using the AbleNet Symbol Overlay Maker app.
What to do:
Pirate Ships
1. Have students use the Battery Operated Scissors to cut squares of construction paper for the sails of their pirate ship.
2. Assist students in cutting one side of the milk carton off.
3. Glue or tape the straw into the inside of the milk carton, punch two holes into the construction paper sail and slide the paper onto the straw.
Ship Race
1. Fill your container with water (optional: add blue food coloring to the water)
2. Place students pirate ships into the water and give each student a straw to blow their ship across the water or use a fan connected to the PowerLink 4 and a Jelly Bean switch switch to blow the ship across the water. (Caution: Do not place the fan too close to the water)
3. Allow all students the opportunity to race each other.
Treasure Hunt
1. Show students the treasure map.
2. Students follow the map to find the location marked by the X on the map.
3. When students arrive at the X they press the TalkingBrix and hear the clue to the next location (ex. There be no treasure here! That scalawag Mrs. Johnson the Red must have taken it!) Students solve the clue and proceed to the next location.
4. Students eventually find their way to the location of the treasure.
Treasure ideas:
Set up the Pirate Parrrty with food and drinks in your classroom while the students are on the treasure hunt. The final treasure location can be back in your classroom.
- Prizes or costumes for the students
- Pirate themed movie
- Gold chocolate coins
Additional materials, lesson plans, and even Pirate talk apps can be found at the International Talk Like a Pirate Day website here: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/teachers.html.