Topic: Introduction to Sailboats
Teacher Resources:
Printable PDF Version of this Lesson Plan
Downloadable PPT of Lesson (12.5mb)
Lesson 1 Handout – Sailboat Parts Identification Exercise (PDF)
Primary Goal :
A basic introduction to the sailboat. Students should be able to identify the parts of a sailboat and familiarize themselves with some of the terminology that will be used throughout the course.
Lesson Objectives :
- Ability to identify fundamental parts of a sailboat
- Introduction to boat terminology used throughout the course
- Introduction to some of the math and physics concepts that will be covered throughout the course
Lesson Outline :
- Establishing a Foundation: Parts of a Sailboat
- When looking at the many pictures of all the different types of sailboats, students may become overwhelmed
- It is important to emphasize that although boat designs may differ greatly, most of the fundamental elements are the same
- Show the slide with the 7 boats and ask the students to identify the similarities/differences
- Not only will this get the students engaged, but it will make them aware that they don’t know the boat terminology
- Learning boat terminology is like learning a new language à critical for communication
- Identify the Parts of a Sailboat
- Hull – the foundation of the boat that makes it a seagoing vessel
- Bow, Stern, Port, Starboard
- Fiberglass, wood, metal
- The Rig – the structures coming up from the hull that support the sails
- Mast, Boom, Forestay, Backstay, Shrouds
- Explain the importance of supporting the mast
- Running Rigging – all the gear and lines used to raise and trim the sails
- Halyards, Sheets
- Sails – how a boat generates speed
- Mainsail, Jib, Spinnaker
- Parts of the Sail: Luff, Leech, Foot
- Underwater Appendages
- Rudder, Keel
- Hull – the foundation of the boat that makes it a seagoing vessel
Supplemental Resources :
School of Sailing Glossary: http://www.schoolofsailing.net/terminology.html
US Sailing Video: Parts of a Boat : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ6O8lB0cII
Exercises/Activities :
If you have access to boat models, bring in and allow the students to take turns identifying the parts of the sailboat. It will be good to provide them with a list of all the items covered during the course.
Separate the students into groups and create a competition using both the sailboat part identification and definitions (Sailboat Jeopardy works well).