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Home , Barquentine, Block (sailing), Brig, Daniel Dobbins, Jesse Elliott, Jibboom

Little Mates, Ahoy! - Week Two

- Learn the Ropes - Section One

Find Your Bearings Navigating a

The modern phrase “find your bearings” comes from the maritime tradition of taking compass bearings. With this, the first step to becoming a sailor is to find your location on a ship. Look at the diagram below and learn your place on a vessel.

Definitions: : This is the back of the ship (inside), it comes AFTER. : This is the aftermost part of the vessel - outboard. Port : Left side of the ship from the centerline. Starboard: The right side of the ship from the centerline. : The forwardmost part of the vessel - outboard. Navigating a Ship

2. Pick a room in your home and label the directions on the walls using these templates! Take a

photo when you have finished. Feel free to create your own templates.

FORWARD

STARBOARD

AFT PORT Ship Structure

3. Here, you will learn more about the masts and yards onboard the US Niagara. Look at this diagram and learn all the names for the masts and yards.

1. Boat 12.Fore Topgallant 23. (Same on Port Side) 2. 13.Fore Topgallant 3. Mainmast 14.Fore Yard 4. Main Yard 15.Fore 5. Main 16. Fore Top 6. Main Topmast 17.Fore Yard 7. Main Topsail Yard 18.Foremast 8. Main Topgallant Mast 19. 9. Main Topgallant Yard 20. Martingale 10.Main Yard 22. 11.Fore Royal Yard 22.Flying Jibboom Ship Structure

4. Now that you know where everything goes, try to label all of the yards and masts in the blanks below. Refer to the previous page if you need it!

10 11 9 12 8 13 7 14 15 6 5 4 16 17 3 22 2 18 21 20 1 23 19

1. 9. 17. 2. 10. 18. 3. 11. 19. 4. 12. 20. 5. 13. 21. 6. 14. 22. 7. 15. 23. 8. 16. Wind Power

5. In the days before engines and steam, moved on muscle and wind power. The Brig Niagara has 15 ! Pay close attention and learn where all of these sails go on the ship and how they are named - they may look familiar to you.

6. Use the sails on the next page to learn these further. Try to draw or make a 3-D version of Niagara. When that’s done, simply cut out the sails on the next page and place them in their correct location. Wind Power Wind Power

When people see Niagara for the first time, they generally look at all of her sails. In 1813, the sails would have been made out of linen - a plant grown throughout the country to make fabric. The linen was transported from Philadelphia and, once here in Erie, it was turned into rope and sails. The Brig Niagara can move in all directions and required many sailors to move her, working all 6 miles of rope/line onboard!

7. Think about all of the work it took to move the ship. What is required to make the Niagara move? ______8. How could the wind help or harm Perry’s fleet? ______. 9. What are some things you use or play with that uses wind to work? ______Wind Power Optional Activity : Make-a-Kite

Supplies Needed: Construction Paper OR Recycled Paper Bag OR Cloth String Ribbon (Optional) 2 Straight Sticks or Dowel Rods Tape or Glue

1. Have your parent carve a small notch in the two sticks - one stick should be slightly larger than the second. 2. Tie or tape the sticks together like a cross - the horizontal stick should be the larger of the two. 3. Measure your paper to fit the two sticks. 4. Cut out the paper/cloth to form your kite. 5. Take your string and tie it in sections around the ends of your sticks to make the outer edges of your kite. 6. Place your sticks and string on the back of the paper. Make sure it lines up perfectly. Photo Credit: DragonflyFun. com 7. Fold the paper/bag/cloth around the string. 8. Tape the paper/cloth down. Food For Thought: 9. Create a tail using ribbon. What do kites and ship sails have 10. Get crafty with this, maybe write “Don’t Give Up The in common? How do they both Ship” on the front?! capture the wind? FINISHED! Go fly Your Kite. Section Two

Identifying Ships What Ship Is This? Did you know there are many kinds of boats and ships - it’s all in the way the sails are set up. For this activity, we will describe a ship or boat based on the sails and . After you have read the description, look at the “silhouettes” and try to match them correctly.

Descriptions:

Square Rigged Fore-and-Aft Rigged

This type of ship has three or more masts. Its fore and mainmasts are rigged "square" while the mizzen mast is rigged "fore and aft".

The is a vessel that is rigged with three or more masts. The Barquentine difference between the Barque and Barquentine is that the Barquentine's fore- mast is the only square-rigged mast.

A Brig is a two-masted square rigged sailing vessel. Attached to the mainmast is a Brig spanker.

A is a two-masted vessel. The foremast is fully rigged while the main- Brigantine mast has at least two sails. The mainmast is the taller of the two.

A is a type of vessel that has two or more masts, all of which are fore- Schooner and-aft rigged. The mainmast is generally taller than the foremast.

Ship A “ship” is a fully rigged vessel with three or more square-rigged masts.

Sloop A is a one-masted with a fore-and-aft rigged headsail and . What Ship Is This?

______

______

______

Ship Silhouettes provided by https://tallshipskotka.fi/en/vessels/ Section Three

Nautical Lingo Salty Speak

Much of our modern language comes from the centuries-old language of the sea. For this activity, you will try to learn some of these modern phrases that come from seafarers of yesteryear. Read the following sentences and try to fill in the blanks with the word you think fits best. The answers are listed if you get stumped. Aweigh!

Salty Speak Choices:

Aloft Groggy Out of the Blue Ahoy Gobstopper Over the Barrel Cut and Run In the Doldrums Pipe Down Dead Ahead Over Scuttlebutt Down the Hatch Know the Ropes Shiver Me Timbers Fathom Landlubber Show Your Colors First Rate Leeway Square Meal Forge Ahead Let the Cat Out of the Bag Taken Aback Get Your Bearings Long Shot Under the Weather Go Overboard Mess Windfall Salty Speak

1. To ______is to get a fix on the direction you are heading. 2. When you’re ______, you probably feel down in the dumps. Ships sailing near the equator would often get stuck in calm seas for days or weeks because of lack of wind. When this happened, sailors would often have to man the sweeps to get the ship moving again. 3. When sailing in high seas, sailors would often exclaim ______when the ship’s timbers would shake under their feet. 4. The Bosun’ would ______in the presence of an unruly sailor who needed to be punished - often used today to deliver bad news or when someone lets something slip. 5. If you’re feeling ______this means you’re sick. In the days of the Age of , this meant you were below resting. 6. ______means you know your way around, know what you’re doing. 7. ______is totally unexpected. Short for “out of the clear blue sky” and is an analogy to a sudden change in weather. 8. Up above the deck ______. 9. The word ______is usually used to say hello! 10. If you’re feeling a bit ______, it could be that you’re a little sleepy or drunk from too much grog (mixture of water and whiskey). 11. ______is the amount of the ship that is being blown leeward. 12. A ______is an eating place aboard a ship. 13. To be surprised or halted is to be______. This comes from when the ship’s sails are turned into the wind and the ship is halted in the water. 14. To ______means to show your allegiance or position. This comes from when a ship would fly is nation’s flag. 15. If you ______it probably means you’ve done too much. In the maritime world is means to go into the water. 16. Sailors earned three of these. To get a ______meant you had a significant meal. These would often be eaten on a square plate. 17. A ______Ship-Of-The-Line was the largest and most powerful ship of the day. Less powerful ships were rated downward. 18. A ______is something that probably won’t happen. In the , it meant to fire at a ship that was just out of range. 19. The Bosun’ would blow their whistle when it was time to ______. This meant it was lights out and time to go below to rest. Salty Speak

20. A ______is someone who doesn’t have their sea legs yet. 21. A gabby or talkative sailor was often prescribed a mouthful of grapeshot . This act was called a ______. Today, its name lives on in a hard candy. 22. A ______was an unexpected rush of wind from a mountainous shore. 23. If you ______, you’ve probably collapsed. In the nautical world, this means the ship’s keel is out of water and it’s rolled on its side. 24. ______is where the ship’s cargo goes. Most of your food and drink goes down yours too. This is also a toast! 25. ______means a rumor, comes from the time when sailors would gather around the “scuttled: (emptied) “butt” (large barrel) into which drinking water was pumped. This was located at the base of the mainmast. 26. If you’re ______, this meant you were going to be getting a flogging (punished). Today, it means that you’re in a helpless position. 27. To ______means to sail into a strong wind. 28. If you ______it means that you are leaving a situation rather quickly. This meant that the ship would cut their and make sail immediately - typically due to an enemy vessel or bad weather. 29. If you can ______it means you understand a difficult problem. This word is also a measure- ment or 6 feet. 30. Directly in front of (off the of the ship) ______. Salty Speak Activity Answers

1. Get Your Bearings 16. Square Meal 2. In the Doldrums 17. First Rate 3. Shiver Me Timbers 18. Long Shot 4. Let the Cat out of the Bag 19. Pipe Down 5. Under the Weather 20. Landlubber 6. Know the Ropes 21. Gobstopper 7. Out of the Blue 22. Windfall 8. Aloft 23. Keel Over 9. Ahoy 24. Down the Hatch 10. Groggy 25. Scuttlebutt 11. Leeway 26. Over the Barrel 12. Mess 27. Forge Ahead 13. Taken Aback 28. Cut and Run 14. Show Your Colors 29. Fathom 15. Go Overboard 30. Dead Ahead Game: Lingo Bingo It’s time to put your salty knowledge to the test with a game of “Lingo Bingo”. The rules are simple: 1. Create Your Gameboard - feel free to use the one on the following page 2. Cut out your bingo chips - make enough for a partner or a few friends! 3. Write out the “Salty Speak” activity without the word or phrase filled in. 4. Cut out each question from the “Salty Speak” activity and put the slips in a bowl or hat. 5. Gather round, have someone read each definition from the “Salty Speak” activity and see if it’s on your gameboard - first person to fill in a horizontal, diagonal, or vertical line of phrases wins Lingo Bingo! Have Fun.

What You’ll Need

• Bingo Cards

• Bingo Chips - These can be made of scrap paper

• Scissors

• Bowl Game: Lingo Bingo

Let The Cat Under The Know The Cut and Fathom Out of the Weather Ropes Run Bag

In The Over the Show Your Wind Fall Gobstopper Doldrums Barrel Colors

Down The Mess FREE Aloft Pipe Down Hatch

Dead Out of the Ahoy Long Shot Keel Over Ahead Blue

Taken Scuttlebutt First Rate Groggy Landlubber Aback Game: Lingo Bingo

Sample Board

FREE

Section Four

Knot-Know-How Knot-Know-How

Here you will begin to “Learn the Ropes”. A sailor must know how to tie knots in order to keep a ship moving. For this section, there are three separate activities, broken down by difficulty: Easy Knots, Intermediate Knots, and Hardest Knots! Easy Knots OVERHAND KNOT - One of the easiest and most fundamental knots. Used since the beginning of time, this knot creates a stopper. FIGURE EIGHT KNOT - This knot is often a permanent stopper knot as well. It’s used on a ship in order to pre- vent a line from falling out of a . SQUARE KNOT - This ancient know is also called a “reef knot” and is used to “reef” the sails on a ship. This is also the knot used to tie neckerchiefs on a US dress uniform.

Intermediate Knots BOWLINE - This ancient knot is used to form a loop at the end of a line and is often referred to a the “King of Knots” . On a ship it is one of the most important knots. BEND - This knot is used to tie two lines together. If the ropes are different sizes, the larger line forms the bight in the knot. CLOVE HITCH - A clove hitch is used to tie to shrouds.

Hardest Knots THE ROUND TURN AND TWO-HALF HITCHES - This is used on a ship to secure a line around a pole. CARRICK BEND - Also known as the “Sailors Breastplate” it is another way (like a sheet bend) to tie two lines together. MOORING HITCH - This is a quick release knot used to quickly tie and remove a boat from a dock.

Photo Credits and Assistance Can Be Found At: https://www.animatedknots.com/overhand-knot Knot-Know-How

Working End - The end of the rope that is actively tying the knot We’ll start with some basic terminology Standing End - The end of the rope that is not actively tying the knot.

Bight - This is a curved section of a knot, between the two ends.

Hitch - Used to tie a line to a post.

Loop - A bight with a Crossing Point - This crossing point. turns a bight into a loop. Knot 1: The Overhand Knot

Step One: Take the working end and form a loop.

Step Two: Pass the working end through the loop.

Step Three: Tighten to form the Overhand Knot

You’ll need some rope to work with. If you don’t have rope, shoelaces will even work!

https://www.animatedknots.com/overhand-knot Knot 2: The Figure Eight Knot

Step One: Make an “S” shape with working end on the top

Step Two: Pass the working end over the line to form a loop.

Step Three: Pass the working end under the standing end.

Step Four: Pass working end through the loop and tighten

https://www.animatedknots.com/overhand-knot Knot 3: The Square Knot

Step One: Lay two lines/rope next to each other. This is your working end/line Step Two: Take the working end and cross it over the standing line. (Right over left)

Step Three: Take the working end and wrap it once more around the standing line, bring it up. This is a half-knot.

Step Four: Cross the working end back over the standing end, this will make an “X”.

Step Five: Tuck the working end through the loop and tug. You have completed Knot 4: The Bowline Knot

Step One: Form a small loop with the rope, leaving enough space for the working end to pass through.

Step Two: Form a small loop with the rope, leaving enough space for the working end to pass through.

Step Three: Pass the working end behind the standing end.

Step Four: Bring working end back down into the loop and tighten. Congrats! You’ve tied a bowline. Knot 5: The Sheet Bend

Step One: Lay two lines side-by-side. Make a bight out of the top line. (See the top line in the image).

Step Two: Bring the other line’s working end through the bight.

Step Three: Pass the working end (second line) through the bight and around the back of the standing line.

Step Four: Bring the working end around the back of the standing line. Tuck the working end under itself and tug. Knot 6: The Clove Hitch

Step One: Pass working end of rope around the pole.

Step Two: Bring the working end back around and over the standing end.

Step Three: Continue by bringing the working end back around the pole.

Step Four: Thread the working end under the second pass around the pole. Tighten and you have tied the Clove Hitch! Knot 7: The Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

Step One: Pass the working end around the post twice.

Step Two: Bring the working end back around over the top of the standing end.

Step Three: Take the working end and pass it under the standing end. This will make the first Half Hitch.

Step Four: Pull this tight. Then continue the working end back around the standing end.

Step Five: Pull this tight again. You have tied two Half Hitches. Knot 8: Carrick Bend

Step One: With one rope, form a loop. Pass the tail (working end) under the standing end.

Step Two: Pass the working end of the second rope under the loop and then over the first rope’s standing end.

Step Three: Bring the working end of the second rope under that of the first rope.

Step Four: Take the working end of the second rope and pass it into the loop.

Step Five: Continue with the tail (working end) and pass it under itself and out.

Step Six: both tails and tighten the knot! Congratulations, you’ve tied the Carrick Bend. Knot 9: Mooring Hitch

Step One: Pass the line under, then over a pole or post.

Step Two: Form a loop with the working end and lay it on the standing end.

Step Three: Make a bight with the working end and lay it under the standing end.

Step Four: Make a bight with the working end and lay it under the standing end.

Step Five: Tighten the knot! Pull to release when finished. Section Five

Building a Fleet Building Niagara

Building Perry’s fleet in the wilderness was difficult due to the lack of supplies in the region. One of the easiest things for the crew to get was wood. Here, we are going to talk about the types of wood that went into building the Niagara.

“no finer oak grew than was to be found there, close to the water's edge, and in the land-locked harbor the vessels, when built, could ride in security” - Daniel Dobbins

The different types of wood required for construction of the Niagara include:

• Planking - White and Black Oak

• Decks - White Pine

• Stanchions - Red Cedar

• Sweeps and Oars - White Ash Due to shortage of time and the need to win and fight only ONE BATTLE, the ship was built with green wood - a tree that was recently cut and didn’t have time to dry out. This was wood that was prone to rot. Building Niagara

For this activity, you will further research the different types of trees that went into building the US Brig Niagara and the rest of Perry’s Fleet. For this section, you will create a scrapbook. You will need some paper and writing utensils.

Work by yourself or with a partner to research the following trees used in the construction of the 1813 US Brig Niagara. - White Pine -Red Cedar -White Ash -Black Walnut -Poplar -Black Oak -White Oak

Break down each tree into the following categories: -Draw the leaf shape and color them in. -Write out their “Common Name”. -Write out their “Scientific Name”. -Label the part of the ship this wood was used to build. - Sketch out where in the each tree can be found. - Use the map provided on the next page!

Feel free to look outside and see what types of trees are in your neighborhood. Maybe put this in your scrapbook.

Supplying Perry’s Fleet

It’s map reading time! When looking at a map, the first thing to look for is the TITLE. This tells us what kind of map we are looking at. From here, look for a KEY or LEGEND, this shows us what each symbol means. For this activity, we are going to go over how the Americans supplied their fleet at Presque Isle. The following pages will have maps for you to look at. Follow the directions and don’t be afraid to ask questions. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Using the map on the following page, identify and label the following cities, states, and regions: Erie, | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Meadville, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Black Rock (Buffalo), New York | New York City, New York | Washington D.C. | Newport, Rhode Island | Chesapeake Bay, Virginia | Kentucky 2. Now that you’ve identified each of these locations, label the following sources of supplies (create a symbol) on your map. - Balls - Pittsburgh -Anchors - Pittsburgh -Nail Rods - Pittsburgh -/Rope - Pittsburgh -Axes for Cutting Timber - Meadville -Timber - Erie/Presque Isle -Carronades - Washington D.C. -Gun Powder - Chesapeake Bay Region -Sail Cloth - Philadelphia -150 Shipwrights, caulkers, carpenters - New York City -75 skilled African American Sailors - Newport -100+ Seaman with Jesse Elliott - Buffalo -100+ Kentucky Riflemen - Kentucky 3. When your map is finished, think about the following questions. - What made Presque Isle a good choice for building the fleet? -The Battle of (Put-In-Bay, ) was fought at the mouth of what two rivers? -What river links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario?

Supplying Perry’s Fleet

LEGEND Naming Ships Nine American and six British of varying size, armament, and design took part in the on September 10, 1813. Each ship, like the men standing on her decks that day, had a different past, role to play, and a different name! The name of a ship represents a time honored tradition - one which creates a culture for the sailors who serve aboard them. Warships generally honors heroes, past battles, landmarks and royalty, or names that reflect a defiant warlike posture. Merchant ships, several of which were converted to warships to serve at the Battle of Lake Erie, often carried lighter names. To learn more about how the American warships got their names for Oliver Perry’s fleet- check out the diagram below: The names of U.S. Navy vessels were usually preceded by the U.S. and the designation (Ship, , Brig, etc.) Today all U.S. warships use the prefix “U.S.S”.

Named for Captain James Lawrence, mortally wounded on June 1, 1813. It was Lawrence Lawrence who said “Don’t Give Up The Ship” when he was in battle with the HMS Shannon.

Niagara The Brig Niagara was named for the American victory at the Battle of Niagara.

Caledonia This was a captured British named for the ancient name of .

This ship was named for the playful spirit of English playwright William Ariel Shakespeare’s , The Tempest. Merchant Schooner originally named Catherine. Somers was named for Lt. Rich- Somers ard Somers, an American Naval Officer fighting the in 1804. This ship was named for the invertebrate animal with eight legs with a deadly Scorpion sting.

Porcupine This ship was named for the animal with stiff, sharp quills.

Tigress This ship was named for the female tiger.

Trippe This ship was named for an American naval officer who died at sea in 1810. Naming Ships Activity Questions: 1) Think about how American ships were named during the - come up with different names for the American fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. List why you chose these names. 2) Research the following ship names: - Ranger - Enterprise - Washington - Niagara - Hornet - - Constitution - Lexington 3) Once you’ve looked up the ship names, list how many times each of them have been used. Why do you think these names were chosen? 4) Look up 3 other modern ships. What kind of ships are they? How does the United States Name the following classes of ships : , , , Section Six

Make - A - Ship Activity Nine: Build Your Ship Now that you know how a ship works, how they are built, supplied, and named - it’s time to put your skills to the test. Here, you are going to design your own warship based on those that sailed and fought in the War of 1812! Get creative with this - the way you build it is completely up to you.

Build It With:

• Lego

• Paper

• Cardboard

• Bottle

• Popsicle Sticks

Be sure to include the following:

• Create a Log Book to go with it - this will include a ship’s name and profile. How did you come up with the name? When was is built? Become the captain - how many sailors would you need to crew it?

• What kinds of wood was this built out of?

• What kind of ship is it? A Brig, Schooner, Sloop, Frigate, Ship-Of-The-Line, Barken- tine, etc.

• How do you supply it? Make a map to show where you get supplies from.

• Where would you choose your homeport: Erie, Boston, Newport, Norfolk? Good Luck and Have Fun! Section Seven

Coloring Pages