Pirate Science and Make-Believe STEM
Inspire students to explore science and engineering with activities related to pirate-themed play and storytelling.
Sail the Seven Seas with Pirate Science
Ahoy, matey! Pirate-themed imaginative play may have kids walking the plank, weighing anchor, studying the night sky and the movement of the ocean, using a spyglass to watch for other ships, perusing maps, and dreaming of treasure. This set of science and engineering activities helps kids explore STEM as part of pirate storytelling.
Pirate Science: Experiment | Watch | Kits | Ask | Careers | Read
EXPERIMENT: Pirate Science Experiments
DIY Spyglass
Land ho! Scope out land, creatures in the sea, and other ships using your own DIY spyglass. A pirate would be lost without this portable version of a telescope. With its system of lenses that magnify far-away things, a spyglass (or monocular) helps a pirate keep an eye on what's coming. Make your own and learn how lenses work to bend light and make objects look bigger (or smaller). A spyglass might help keep you and your crew out of Davy Jones's Locker!
Line of Sight
The life of a pirate can be dangerous. How does vision change when you only use one eye? Even with two eyes, many animals have monocular vision. Their eyes might be on the sides of their head, and each eye takes in different information. Humans have binocular vision. Find out what this means and how it affects depth perception in this vision science activity.
Sail Cork Boats
To survive at sea, pirates have to sail their ships through stormy seas. What helps keep a boat from tipping over? Build a toy sailboat and experiment with different design features to see how a boat stays upright. What is a keel? What happens when you make a boat taller, skinnier, wider, or shorter?
Ocean in a Bottle
Pirates may look gruff on the outside, but most pirates have a soft spot for the briny deep sea. Make an ocean in a bottle to keep the sea always within sight in your captain's quarters. This model ocean can help explain how ocean waves move, too!
Popsicle Stick Catapult
No quarter! An on-board catapult might be handy when exchanging "greetings" with other pirates and ships. Make your own mini catapult from wooden craft sticks and then set up a target and test your accuracy launching small objects.
Crystal Treasure
What kind of treasure will you find? Will the loot be full of gold, silver, and gems? Use science to grow your own crystals to be part of your treasure chest.
Code a Treasure Map
Use this paper-based coding activity to create a secret treasure map. Then write instructions that can guide another pirate to the treasure by walking x number of steps up, down, left, or right. Make your own map on graph paper or use our free templates (large graph for a simple map; small graph for a more complex map). (Tip! You can increase the challenge for older students by encouraging them to add in obstacles and landmarks and come up with other kinds of movements, like jumps, narrow channels, and bridge crossings.)WATCH: Videos
KITS
The following Science Buddies Kit is related to the science experiments highlighted above and pirate-themed storytelling:
DIY Lantern
Pirates do a lot by starlight, but you will need a reliable lantern to check on things aboard ship at night. Don't get caught in the dark! With the DIY Night-Light Kit, you can design and build a custom night-light or lantern.To learn about other Science Buddies Kits, see our 10 Science Kits for Summer Science Experiments and Discovery recommendations.
ASK: Questions
Use these questions to prompt conversation and reflection about the science behind the Pirate Science activities:
- What are the differences between the two lenses used in the DIY spyglass?
- How is a spyglass telescope similar to binoculars? How is it different from a larger telescope used by astronomers?
- How is designing and building a boat similar to designing and building other vehicles?
- If you were going to build a pirate ship, what features would it have and why?
- How does a pirate's spyglass help make things appear closer?
CAREER: Make Connections with STEM Careers
Learn more about related science and engineering careers, like:
READ: Books
For other picture and story books you can pair with the Pirate Science and Make-Believe STEM theme, see titles like these:
For more suggestions for science-themed summer reading, see our Summer Reading List. Also, don't miss this roundup of creative STEM activities for storytelling and imaginative play.
Bookmark, Pin, or Share the Make-Believe STEM / Pirate Science Collection!
More Make-Believe STEM
This collection is part of a series of Make-Believe STEM resources at Science Buddies.
For additional resources to support connections between science and engineering and literacy, imaginative play, storytelling, visit Make-Believe STEM Science Experiments and Storytelling Activities.
Categories:
You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:
- 13 Paper STEM Activities!
- Popsicle Stick STEM Projects
- 10 STEM Activities with Cardboard Tubes
- Paper Circuits Science Projects
- Arduino Science Projects and Physical Computing
- 15+ Plant Science Activities and Lessons / Teach Plant Biology
- Star Wars STEM Activities for May the 4th Be With You Science
- Teach About Biodiversity with Free STEM Lessons & Activities
