Preview: Sailor! Can you tie a bowline? 
Since time immemorial, sailors looking to crew were asked two simple questions: “Can you tie a bowline, and where’s your knife?” Today at South Middle School, you can't have a knife!  But can you tie these knots to sail on a tall ship?
Probably the first knot that you learn when you start sailing. A good all round useful knot. Not only is it very useful but YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO TIE A BOWLINE or you loose all credibility as a sailor!
You need a RELIABLE STOPPER knot to keep the end of lines from coming out of blocks and other sailboat accessories and the figure of eight knot works.
The Highwayman's hitch is useful when you want to cast off by just pulling on the loose end of the line. This unties the knot and FREES THE LINE, and away you go.

Direct Instruction: Spanish Conquest - Three "Cs - Columbus, Cortez, Cabrillo" 

  • As a class, we will share read this and select the key words.
"It was the first time of the great seaborne empires of Western Europe, for long the richest and most formidable, the focus of envy, fear, and hatred. It was created with astonishing speed in little more than two generations, by a series of hazardous improvisations, the work of obscure private adventurers who explored vast areas, crossed great mountain ranges and conquered populous and highly organized native kingdoms. Despite the haphazard character of its origin it remained remarkably enduring."   Historian J.H. Parry The Spanish Seaborne Empire

Small Group Discussion: Ship Building in the 16th century

Group Task: You'll be assigned a group named for a famous ship will will study this year:
  • San Salvador
  • Susan Constant
  • Mayflower
  • Arabella
  • Amistad
Each sailor has to look at the posters below (each student has their own poster) and fill out the chart in Google classroom. Use your fellow shipmates to complete this task or you may drown!

Survivor! - Team Assessment

As you know,  Juan Cabrillo did not survive the trip up the coast of California, but as part of his crew, will you survive to make it back to the port in Guatemala? Be prepared to participate in SURVIVOR! (The classroom trivia game) 
References for this lesson: 
Ashley, Roy. "California's Origin Story." Mains'l Haul: A Journal of Pacific Maritime History: Into the Unknown: The Historic Voyage of the San Salvador. Fall/Winter 2009. Vol. 44, No. 1 &2. pages 8-21. 

Engstrand, Iris and Harry Kelsey. "Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo and the Building of the San Salvador." Mains'l Haul: A Journal of Pacific Maritime History, Recreating the San Salvador-1541-2015. Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer 2015. Vols. 51: No. 1-4. pages 16-33 

​Phillips, Carla Rahn. "Spain and the Pacific: Voyaging into Vastness." Mains'l Haul: A Journal of Pacific Maritime History, Spain's Legacy in the Pacific. Fall 2005/Winter 2006. Vols. 41, No.4 & 41, No. 1. pages 4-13.