Pirates Invade Brainerd Baptist School
If you have followed the Brainerd Baptist School social media accounts, you have undoubetedly seen the hashtag #learningisfunatbbs many times. I never cease to be amazed at the fun ways in which our faculty make learning fun for our students. This past Thursday was International Pirate Day and our 4th and 5th grade teachers did not let this special day pass without incorporating it into a fun day of learning. I have asked 4th grade teacher Jesse Robinson to tell us about this day.
September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and for the past few years, the fourth and fifth-grade teachers at BBS have celebrated by hosting pirate-themed activities in our classrooms. We transform our rooms and hallway, so when students arrive, they’re surprised to see everything looking a bit different. That’s my favorite part! When students walk down the hallway and notice the teachers dressed as pirates, they know it’s going to be an extra special day. That little moment makes all the time and energy spent preparing completely worth it.
Each classroom offers different activities. As a fourth-grade reading teacher, I give my students a pirate-themed passage and have them create a Main Idea Framework to analyze it. They also perform a pirate-themed Reader’s Theater, acting out a few swashbuckling stories, which they absolutely love!
In English, students learn pirate vocabulary and phrases, then use them to write a short passage. After completing their writings, they enjoy a round of Cannon Ball Toss (Cornhole) to wrap up the lesson. Meanwhile, in math, students embark on a “treasure hunt” of sorts, solving pirate-themed multi-digit multiplication problems. This reinforces their confidence in using the standard algorithm while keeping them engaged.
In fourth-grade science, students create treasure maps and use their newly acquired compass rose skills to label everything correctly. The next day, they trade maps and try to find each other’s hidden treasures. In fifth-grade science, Mrs. Gruner changes things up by hosting a pirate-themed Breakout Room activity via Google Classroom, where students must solve a series of puzzles to complete their mission.
In fifth-grade reading, students also review the Main Idea Framework with hands-on activities and the read-aloud story, Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker. As the class works together on the visual tool, Mrs. Cole spices things up with some wild and imaginative reasons why students might have to “walk the plank.” The class wraps up with a playful moment as she announces that everyone must walk the plank, only to reveal one set up at her door for dramatic effect!
What I love most about these activities is that, whether or not the kids realize it, they are learning. These fun days are a great way to review and reinforce skills they’ve been fine-tuning, without them even realizing how hard they’re working. It’s a win for teachers too—we love having a reason to dress up and watch the students get excited about learning.