Thematic Statement
This is a two-week integrated unit on pirates through the centuries for sixth graders. In social studies, the students will learn pirate history and culture while they learn to write and speak a pirate dialect in English. Math lessons will teach the students navigational skills; science lessons will address ocean topics. Technology and home economics will be used for navigation and culture. The unit will culminate with a day-long treasure hunt incorporating knowledge and skills from each subject area.
This unit fits with the purpose of our Christian school because the pirates are a perfect example of the Fall’s effect on mankind due to an imperfect world. Students will be challenged to creatively address the issue of piracy from a Christian worldview, seeking to redeem the fallen world and cultivate a new, God-honoring culture. Every man--every pirate--is in need of redemption, so this unit will call and equip sixth graders to better understand their responsibility of sharing the Gospel with every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Most sixth grade students will be excited to study pirates due to the recent media popularity of piracy. Sixth graders should have some prior knowledge about pirates; however, many adolescents do not realize that pirates existed long before Jack Sparrow and still exist today! By connecting the ancient past with the present day, sixth graders will see that history really is an ongoing story and understand the importance of knowing current events..
As a result of this unit, students will understand that not all pirates are like those in Pirates of the Caribbean. The final treasure hunt will assess student learning because students should be able to use all the skills and knowledge they acquired over the course of the unit to complete the hunt. Students will also be able to apply the life skills and knowledge learned to other aspects of life outside of their Christian school. Finally, by knowing God commands Christians to redeem culture, students will desire to redeem other aspects of culture as well.
This unit fits with the purpose of our Christian school because the pirates are a perfect example of the Fall’s effect on mankind due to an imperfect world. Students will be challenged to creatively address the issue of piracy from a Christian worldview, seeking to redeem the fallen world and cultivate a new, God-honoring culture. Every man--every pirate--is in need of redemption, so this unit will call and equip sixth graders to better understand their responsibility of sharing the Gospel with every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Most sixth grade students will be excited to study pirates due to the recent media popularity of piracy. Sixth graders should have some prior knowledge about pirates; however, many adolescents do not realize that pirates existed long before Jack Sparrow and still exist today! By connecting the ancient past with the present day, sixth graders will see that history really is an ongoing story and understand the importance of knowing current events..
As a result of this unit, students will understand that not all pirates are like those in Pirates of the Caribbean. The final treasure hunt will assess student learning because students should be able to use all the skills and knowledge they acquired over the course of the unit to complete the hunt. Students will also be able to apply the life skills and knowledge learned to other aspects of life outside of their Christian school. Finally, by knowing God commands Christians to redeem culture, students will desire to redeem other aspects of culture as well.