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Grade 5  
Unit 1: Time of My Life
The Wreck of the Zephyr
by Chris Van Allsburg

Internet Connection Activity
Sailing Ships    Cultural Perspectives
Historic Sailing Ships
Connect to this link:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1820/WSP/ships.html


  1. Click Galley to read about ancient ships used by ancient peoples for war and trade.

  2. Explore other ancient ships by clicking the name or scrolling down.

Caravel: A Revolutionary Sailing Ship
Connect to this link:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/c/caravel.shtml


  1. Read about Caravel ships. Why were they revolutionary?

  2. Click Caravel Printout to Color.

  3. Color, design, and name your own ship. Then, on the same sheet of paper, label the masts and sails, and write down the following information:
    -the weight of an average Caravel ship
    -the amount of weight a Caravel ship can carry


Internet Connection Activity
Sailing    Find Out More
Clipper Ship Museum
Connect to this link:
http://www.globalindex.com/clippers/museum/welcome.htm


  1. Click History. Find out what is special about clipper ships.

  2. Click US America or the back arrow to return to the main page.

  3. Then click Beginnings and Endings to find out more about clipper ships.

  4. Go back to the main page and click Graphics to see pictures of these beautiful ships.

Bluenose II
Connect to this link:
http://www.bluenose2.ns.ca/index.html


  1. Click Back in Time and read about Bluenose.

  2. At the bottom of the page, click FAQ to discover more facts, including how Bluenosegot her name.

  3. Then view the images in the Picture Gallery. Click any picture for a larger image.

  4. Click Ship Specs to see a diagram of Bluenose II, with the location, name, and dimensions of the sails.


Internet Connection Activity
Shipwrecks    Leveled Books
Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves
Connect to this link:
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bar/uap/


  1. Scroll down the page to see the ships as they looked before they sank.

  2. Read about each ship. Then click the pictures or names of the ships your teacher suggests.

  3. Read about the ships' history.

LaSalle Shipwreck Project
Connect to this link:
http://www.thc.state.tx.us/lasalle/lasbelle.html


  1. Read about the excavation.

  2. Then scroll down and click any of the photo albums to learn about the conservation effort.

  3. Click the back arrow. If you have time, click the link to the Smithsonian Magazinearticle about this shipwreck.