PLUNDERING PIRATES (1 ½ hr.)
This workshop is available signed
This workshop is designed to encourage an interest in creative writing, history and geography. The students become pirates from different ages and a variety of different lands. Through the workshop they learn the meaning of the word 'Pirate'.
Pirates have been around since 900 years BC, so we start with greek pirates in the Aegean seas, how they captured and ransomed wealthy people. We then move forward to one of the most successful pirates of the seas, the intrepid Vikings and learn why they ruled the seas and made such an impact on other civilisations.
The Tudor period provided us with famous pirates such as Sir Frances Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh and Essex, from Queen Elizabeth the first's royal court, who were given a letter of Marque and therefore permission to plunder and steal, mostly from the Spanish. How did the press gangs work and operate?
Following on, the Carribean had some very colourful characters such as, Blackbeard, Captain Morgan and women pirates such as Mary Bonney and Anne Reid who managed to escape the hangmans noose, but how? Did pirates have parrots, walk the plank and bury their treasure, find out the truth and the many myths and legends surrounding pirates.
One of China's fiercest women pirates Madam Cheng lead an army of around 80,000 and ruled with a code that was adhered to, by the villagers and fellow pirates. They sailed in Junks which were quick and light and hard to capture.
Travel forward in time and discover that we still have to be weary of sea pirates today, however instead of swords and cannons, they have machine guns and speed boats. Then learn how modern day video pirates operate and what happens if you get caught.
