Module 4 (Social Studies)- Pirates

(Credit)

Haarison, David, Pirates: Boyd Mills Press: Pennsylvania, 2008.

ISBN: 978-1-59078-455-6

Pirates is definitely intended for a mature audience! Harrison makes it well known that we (the reader) do not know pirates like we think we do! They are a much more rough-around-the-edges bunch than Peter Pan. These poems are, for the most part, short and to the point. Each one discussing different parts of a pirates life like theft, punishment, exile, and riding the high seas. Each poem is embedded in its own illustration, created by Dan Burr. My favorite characteristic of Burrs illustrations are that they seem so much like actual pictures. The people’s faces seem so realistic. The title of each poem is written in a grave, older, blood red font. He gave such great attention to detail which really helps keep focus on the content of each poem.

I have taught elementary school for many years and never once have to taught my students about pirates, nor do I think I will ever. However, I did really enjoy this collection of poems. We have discussed that poetry does not have to be the center piece of a lesson but can be a great extension to any topic. In third grade we learn a great deal about immigration and people who have homes away from where they were born. This book, though it may be a little intense at times, is a useful resource for a teacher or a student to use.

Another useful aspect of this book is that it offers at of features about the topic. There are several authors notes as well as a biography. It is very important for students to become familiar with nonfiction text features and Pirates does a great job of this. Just identifying different text features and their purpose could be a cool lesson in itself. Throughout these poems you can find a lot of literary elements like onomatopoeia- see example poem below.

Overall, I would recommend this poetry to any library or classroom, 5th grade and older. It’s fun, versatile, and real. It’s not very often we get to see in to the life of a pirate, ARG!

Poem:

Fog Attack

Easy lads…

Fog has ears.

Shh.

Let no man move,

no cutlass rattle.

Swallow your cough,

sneeze not lest that be

the last sound

ye make on this earth.

Ah!

The fog lifts.

Our surprise party is spoilt!

Jolly Roger grins in the sun.
They turn their cannon!

Hurry, they see us!

We turn quicker!

Steady, gunner…

Await my signal…

Easy…

Ready…

Now!