The Not-So-Jolly Roger

This is a great book for children! It is adventurous and filled with interesting facts about real pirates. I liked in particular how detailed the book was when it came to describing the surroundings and the pirate Blackbeard. For example, “Black hair stuck out everywhere. His black eyebrows and moustache bristled out front. Long black strands fell down his back. And a monstrous black beard, with four pigtails, braided and tied with ribbons on the ends, fell down his chest” (pg. 12-13). This book helped me imagine the people and settings very easily. I know that children would easily picture themselves in the shoes of the main characters. Its is such an imaginative book  filled with true facts about pirates, in particular Blackbeard. I also found myself thinking of many engaging activities I could do with this book. Overall, it is a great book that both teachers and students would enjoy!

I Poem

I am Blackbeard

I am a daunting and intimidating

I wonder what sea holds the most treasure

I hear waves crashing

I see a sandbar

I want power

I am Blackbeard

I pretend I know all there is to know about the ocean

I feel I am influential

I touch long black braids

I worry I wont find happiness

I cry when I cannot conquer all

I am Blackbeard

I understand people listen to me

I say rum is a good thing

I dream I am captain of many ships

I try to capture as many ships as possible

I hope to dance on the beach all night

I am Blackbeard


I am Blackbeard Revised….


I poem

I am Blackbeard

I am a daunting and intimidating creature

I wonder what vulnerable ship holds the most cargo

I hear monstrous waves crashing,

Sounding like a beast awakening

I see a pasty white sandbar,

Covered with shells of armor

I want to feel on top of the tallest mountain,

Overlooking small pebbles

I am Blackbeard

I pretend to be imprudent of pirate’s emotions

I feel I am powerful like a king to his people

I touch my braids, black as a night sky,

And they move as snakes swarming around my head

I worry I wont find bliss in my future

I cry tears of salt when I cannot conquer all

I am Blackbeard

I understand the importance of disguise

I say rum is the butter to my bread

I dream I am a legend

I try to be as fierce as a hammerhead shark swimming the ocean floor

I hope to dance on the beach under the full moon all night

I am Blackbeard

What if you met a pirate?

Quote: “ The master wasn’t the captain. His special duty was navigation-knowing the vessels location at all times. The master kept careful measurements of the vessels course and speed. He used ocean charts and calculated the vessels position at sea using the height of the sun and stars from the horizon, measured by devices like this quarterstaff. Close to shore he needed to know how deep the water was.” (pg 16) Reaction: I was so surprised to learn that there was actual careful consideration and measurement involved in navigating a pirate ship. I had always thought that pirates sailed as they pleased. I never knew all of the time and precision that went into navigation. It made me realize that pirates were smarter than I had thought.

Pirate Diary

Quote: “ We went ashore today to collect fresh water. However, there was a dispute over where we should draw it. Noah, our first mate, wished to look for a spring farther inland. “The water of a spring” he told us “is always pure. That of a stream is just as clear and tastes as sweet, but a dead animal in a pool upstream can make it unsafe to drink.” Reaction: I had put two and two together when thinking about how pirates drank water. I never thought about how they would have to go ashore and find water. It must have been tough being out in the ocean, especially if it was hot weather and not having a endless supply of water. It made me realize how much more work pirates had to go through to stay alive on the ship.

Pirate Diary

Quote: “one of them forthwith drew a pistol he had hidden in his shirt and fired it into the air. At this signal, the ships hatches flew open and out rushed a swarm of the fiercest men I have ever seen.” (pg 22) Connection: Reading about pirates, I have come to learn that they can be very sneaky. When they attack ships they raise a flag and try not to pose any threat to the incoming ship. Then when they are close enough, they raise their pirate flag and attack.
Quote: “The pirates take these rules most seriously, for they draw them up and agree to them amongst themselves.” (pg 32-33) Connection: This is very similar to the way Americans run. I found it relatable to have a set of rules to follow by. I like how pirates do make rules to follow. It makes things easier and more civil. I found this very interesting and surprising that they do make up rules amongst themselves.

Quote: “Will took down a roll of canvas and, using the ropes at each end, hung it u between two deck timbers. “This hammock is where you shall sleep, Jake. By day you stow it away with your clothes rolled inside.” (pg 10) Reaction: While I was reading this I took into consideration how hard it must be for Jake. Many changes were being made into his life since boarding the ship. Jake has had to change his sleeping patterns, eating patterns and many other routines. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for Jake to cope with his new lifestyle.

What if you met a Pirate?

Quote: “Pirates didn’t want big ships, and they didn’t want to fight at all. They were smarter than that. They hid in shallow rivers and marshes, so they needed small boats that weren’t very deep.” (pg 10-11) Reaction: When I read this passage I was very surprised. Growing up I have always thought pirates wanted the biggest ships they could get. I always had these assumptions that they wanted to fight everyone they could for valuables. It was interesting to hear about why pirates hid in shallow rivers.
Quote: “Plunder, the stuff pirates stole, was not all silver and gold. Pirates took-or smuggled- anything they could find and anything that would sell.” (pg 22) Reaction: I also found this quote to be very interesting and surprising. I had always thought that pirates only wanted gold. I couldn’t have never imagined they would steal goods such as molasses and other common goods. It makes sense as to why they would steal these goods, for money. It makes pirates seem more realistic when they steal common goods from other ships and not just treasure.