Billy and the Pirates

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Billy and Fatcat find a mysterious message in a bottle at sea. When suddenly something terrible happens: they bump into a pesky pirate and his smelly crew. Oh no!

Fortunately for our courageous twosome, they’re no strangers to peril: they always have a trick (or treat) up their sleeves.

English:

Write a diary entry for Billy about this adventure.
Retell the story from Fatcat’s point of view.
Write a postcard from Billy to her family, describing what has happened to her.
Make a newspaper report about Captain Howl’s exploits.
Create a wanted poster for Captain Howl and his crew.
Add a new part of the story in which the pirates come across a new sea monster. How might Billy help to avoid / defeat it?
There are a number of books about Billy and Fatcat. Which is your favourite? Why?
Explore some of our teaching ideas linked to Billy and the Beast. How are these books similar / different?
Write your own adventure about Billy. What might happen to her next?
Watch this narrated version of the story. Could you make your own?

Maths:

Plot different points on a treasure map and use coordinates to help others find out their locations.
Design some symmetrical flags for a pirate ship.

Science:

Discover more about sharks, including their diet, habitat, adaptations, and more. Use the information you have learned to create a report about them.
Learn about floating and sinking. Design and build different types of boats. Which one can hold the most ‘cargo’ before it sinks?

Computing:

Use publishing tools to design your own treasure map.
Make an animation of a pirate ship sailing on the ocean.
Design a game in which a pirate ship has to move around a map, avoiding obstacles and reaching an island with buried treasure.
Record a podcast, interviewing Billy about her adventure.

Design Technology:

Design a new pirate ship for Billy and Fatcat, and use recycled materials to build it.
Make a model of the kraken.
Design and create a special box for Kevin to keep his front door key, so he doesn’t lose it again.
Design a new pirate costume for Billy and her crew to wear at the end of the story.

Art:

Draw some pictures of sea creatures.
Design a new type of sea monster.
Create a collage of an island scene.
Retell this story in the form of a comic strip.

Music:

Listen to pirate chants and sea shanties. Could you compose your own?
Compose a song the musical mermaids might use to lure pirates to their doom.
Use percussion instruments to mimic the sounds of the ocean and the creaking of a pirate ship.
What kinds of instruments does Billy give to the mermaids? How do these instruments make sounds?

Geography:

Could you hide some ‘treasure’ and make a map to help a friend find it again?
Create a story map that illustrates the main locations in the story, labelling each one to indicate the events that occurred there.
Explore the features of coasts and island habitats.

History:

Find out about famous pirates from the past, e.g. Blackbeard and Anne Bonny.
Try some of these teaching ideas for a pirate day.
What was life like on a real pirate ship? Research the topic and present your findings to an audience.

Physical Education:

Play the Pirate Ship game.

PSHE:

Captain Howl wanted to defeat his enemies and steal the treasure, but Billy wanted to help others and return the bottle. Think of words to describe each character.
Do you think it is better to give or receive? Why?