SAMSON V MARITIME MUSEUM

Owned by the City of New Westminster and Operated by The Royal Agricultural & Industrial Society of BC

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Study Guide

"Day in the Life of the First Mate"

This 60 minute curriculum specific program is suitable for Grades 2-5 students and beginner to advanced ESL students.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyse how people interact with their environment, now and in the past
  • Identify contributions of various occupations to BC communities
  • Describe how technology affects individuals and communities
  • Describe how physical environment influences human activities
  • Analyse influence of technology on lifestyle and work
  • Analyse factors that influence use and development of transportation and communication systems in different regions of Canada
  • Assess the affects of lifestyles and industry on local and global environments
  • Express feelings and ideas using verbal and non-verbal communication and demonstrate cooperative work.

Description:

Participants will interact with the Fraser River's living history. Once on board Samson V, students become "first mates" for an hour and are invited to participate in activities that engage their senses and capture their imaginations.

They are guided through a day in the life of a first mate, and are encouraged to document their sensory experiences, duties and obstacles from dawn until day's end.

Their journey will involve active improvisations, such as creating a moving soundscape in the engine room and hands-on activities, such as learning to tie nautical knots, operating a miniature model of a winch system and writing their very own ship's journal.

In the wheelhouse, they will have an opportunity to role play, pose for photos and try on authentic costumes.

Students will develop a better understanding of how people "worked" the River in the past and what kinds of technology they employed on their daily rounds.

The program is designed to help students forge an emotional, intellectual and creative bond with real life historical characters. Students will leave with an enriched comprehension of the lives, sights, sounds and communities that existed on the Fraser River many years ago.

Activities:

  • Guided, historical tour of Samson V's engine room and creation of a collective soundscape
  • Exploration of the galley, hands on nautical knot tying demonstration, operation of a small winch system, and exposure to some of Samson V's real-life tall tales
  • Role-play in a costumed river drama, review of some of Samson V's authentic ship's logs, and the opportunity to write your own.

Teacher's Resources:

  • Diagram of Samson V with labelled parts
  • Ship's terms
  • Copy of game sheet and crossword
  • Word find
  • Copy of authentic log entry
  • Copy of how to tie knot instructions
  • Access to River School Kit

Student Activity Pages:

  • Copy of a log entry, with space to write their own entry
  • Game sheet and crossword
  • Diagram/colouring sheet of Samson V with labelled parts
  • Word find
  • How to tie knot instructions

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Download Word Search #1

Download Word Search #2

Study guide for "Industry and the Environment on the Mighty Fraser"

Wandering Waters

Meet the Crew

Glossary of Terms for Teachers

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