Materials
• Notebook paper and pens or pencils
• A world map or globe

Learner Objectives
• Demonstrate problem solving.
• Identify the basic human needs for survival.
• Summarize the hazards facing sailors hundreds of years ago.

Procedure
Arrange students into cooperative working groups (about four or five per group).

After a discussion of the Age of Exploration, explain to the students that they are about to embark on a journey at sea. What items would they need to survive the adventure?
A. Have students choose the most important people needed to run a ship (would they want a captain? a cook? a doctor? a navigator? a crewman? all of these people?)
B. Have students choose what type of ship they will take their journey in.
C. Where are they sailing from and where do they expect to go?
D. What food and drink will they take to last the journey
E. If they must stop along the way to resupply, where do they plan to get their supplies?
F. Will they take extra clothing or bedding?
G. How will they maintain hygiene?
H. Does the group want ot include medical supplies? What kind of medical supplies do they think they will need?

What scientific/math knowledge would they need to steer the ship?
A. Knowledge of navigational instruments and how they are used
B. Knowledge of the positions of the sun, moon, and stars
C. What sails are best for what type of winds?

What supplies will be needed to keep the ship sailing?
A. Rope
B. Nails or wooden trunnels
C. Kits to repair sails
D. Extra wood to make repairs

Give students one class period to accomplish this so that groups can report their findings the next class day.
A. Have the captain from each group report their results.
B. Have a class discussion on which groups would survive or not survive and why.

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