Life on Board

Overview

This engaging 60-minute lesson introduces Year 2 students to daily life on Captain Cook’s ship during his explorations. It aligns with the National Curriculum for England, focusing on key history aims: understanding events beyond living memory, recognising significant individuals, and developing chronological understanding.

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National Curriculum Links

History – Key stage 1

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • "events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally (e.g. voyages of discovery)."
  • "the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements."
  • "identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods."

Subject Skills Developed:

• Understanding and recalling historical facts.
• Describing daily life and roles within historical contexts.
• Developing empathy through role play and storytelling.
• Using historical sources such as images and maps.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

1. Describe everyday life on board Captain Cook's ship in simple terms.
2. Identify at least three roles or jobs that people had on the ship.
3. Understand the purpose of Captain Cook’s exploration voyages.
4. Express their knowledge through drawing and answering questions.

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Resources

• High-quality images of 18th-century sailing ships (including HMS Endeavour)
• Simple world map showing Captain Cook’s voyage routes
• Storybook or scripted storytelling text about life on board
• Role-play props (hats, steering wheel replicas, cardboard telescopes, etc.)
• Large drawing paper and coloured pencils
• Worksheet with simple questions for assessment

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather students on the carpet and show a picture of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour.
• Briefly introduce Captain Cook: a famous explorer who sailed many years ago.
• Use the map to trace the route of one of his voyages, pointing out that he travelled to many new places.
• Ask students if they know what life might be like on a ship far from home for many weeks.

2. Storytelling: Life on Board (15 minutes)

• Read or tell a lively story describing a day on the ship, focusing on:
  • What the sailors ate (simple food like biscuits and salted meat)
  • Their jobs (steering, looking out, cooking, cleaning)
  • Sleeping arrangements (sleeping in hammocks or cramped spaces)
  • The excitement and challenges of exploring new lands
• Use pictures to illustrate the story points clearly and engage visual learners.

3. Role Play Activity (15 minutes)

• Divide the class into groups of 5. Each group receives simple props.
• Assign roles such as Captain, Navigator, Cook, Lookout, and Sailor.
• Prompt students to act out their roles, e.g., steer the ship, use a telescope, prepare food, or navigate.
• Circulate to ask guiding questions, encouraging them to think about the importance of each role.

4. Drawing Activity (10 minutes)

• Ask each pupil to draw a ship and include at least three people on board doing different jobs.
• Encourage them to label the parts of the ship they remember or the roles of the people drawn.
• Provide coloured pencils and encourage creativity while reflecting on what they learned.

5. Assessment and Review (10 minutes)

• Hand out a short, simple worksheet with questions such as:
  • Name one job someone would have on Captain Cook’s ship.
  • What might the sailors eat for their meals?
  • Why did Captain Cook and his crew go on their voyage?
  • Draw a line to match the job with the picture of the role.
• Review answers together in a class discussion, praising participation and effort.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide sentence starters or word banks for writing/drawing labels for those needing support.
• Offer more challenging questions verbally to higher-ability pupils during role play or drawing.
• Use clear, simple language and visual aids throughout to support EAL and SEND pupils.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did students engage well with the storytelling and role play?
• Which parts of life on board did they seem most interested in or recall best?
• Adapt future lessons by including artefacts or simple ship models if possible.
• Consider linking to a related geography lesson exploring maps and ocean travel.

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This lesson plan balances factual learning with creative and empathetic experiences, making history tangible and enjoyable for young learners. It meets National Curriculum requirements and encourages a vivid understanding of historical voyages and life in the past.