All Hands on Deck

Image
Oil on canvas, 1884, USS Constitution. . . , Davidson, USS Constitution Museum
Annotation

The USS Constitution Museum developed All Hands on Deck as a means of introducing K–12 educational elements across subjects (math, art, and more) using the history of one of the United States' most renowned military vessels, the USS Constitution.

The website itself is somewhat disorganized. However, there are a plethora of lesson plans embedded within it for students of any grade level.

The available lessons are divided into five sections—preview activities (to determine pre-existing knowledge), the building of early U.S. military frigates, the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars, 1800s life aboard a warship, and the lasting legacy of the USS Constitution. These sections have subsections, within which you can find individual lessons intended for grades K–4, 5–8, and 9–12. Alternatively, visiting "How to Use This Online Curriculum" includes a linked list of states. Clicking on any of the available states—IL, MD, WA, SC, TN, MO, TX, NM, CO, MT, and VA—offers a list of the activities available on the website which correlate with state standards. The individual subsections also include recommended field trip sites, films, books, games, music, and more; as well as anecdotes, literature, and other "grab bag" additional items of interest.

The Image Gallery offers a smattering of paintings, illustrations, and photographs of the vessel and its officers. The gallery also contains a single newspaper recruitment ad dating to 1798.

Educators who would prefer a tangible copy of the curriculum can send an electronic request.

Alternatively, you may want to brush up on your USS Constitution history yourself. In that case, the website offers a 19-minute video in which a young girl meets a variety of figures aboard the ship—a captain's wife, a powder monkey, and an African American sailor among them.

Boston National Historical Park [MA]

Description

The Boston National Historical Park interprets the pre- and early Revolutionary War history of the Boston area, as well as U.S. Navy history. Many of the sites at which rangers conduct programs are located along the Freedom Trail, which possesses a separate entry in this directory. Collections include more than 70,000 photographs and negatives, 13,000 architectural drawings, and shipyard records.

Between mid-April and November, the park offers 90-minute tours of the downtown portion of Boston's Freedom Trail. Lectures are offered at Faneuil Hall and the Bunker Hill Monument. Tours are offered of the World War II and Cold War destroyer, the USS Cassin Young. The park also offers a Freedom Trail slide show, exhibits, a 10 minute Naval Yard introductory video, Junior Ranger activities, 13 educational programs for students with pre-visit materials, and teacher workshops. The website offers a virtual tour of the USS Cassin Young, videos of Navy Yard structures which are not publicly accessible, suggested reading lists for students and teachers, and Web Ranger activities. The USS Cassin Young is not wheelchair accessible.

USS Constitution Museum [MA]

Description

Only yards away from the USS Constitution (or "Old Ironsides"), the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world, the Museum explores the history of this vessel. Interactive galleries take visitors through the ship's 200-year history.

The museum offers two permanent exhibits, as well as temporary exhibits; guided and self-guided tours for school groups; educational programs for K–5; and occasional recreational and educational events.

U.S. Naval Academy Museum [MD]

Description

The U.S. Naval Academy Museum presents the historical and modern role of the United States Navy—both in times of war and in times of peace. Emphasis is placed on artifacts related to Naval officers and Naval Academy alumni. Artifacts on display include those related to the USS Constitution, the USS Monitor, Edward Preble, Isaac Hull, John Dahlgren, and William Halsey. Other collection highlights include ship models made in the 18th century.

The museum offers exhibits.

Freedom Trail Foundation [MA]

Description

The Freedom Trail Foundation operates the Freedom Trial, a 2.5-mile path through Boston, Massachusetts, which includes 16 historical sites. These sites are the Boston Common, the oldest public park in the U.S.; the 1798 State House; Park Street Church; the Granary Burying Ground, resting place of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and the Boston Massacre victims; King’s Chapel and Burying Ground; Boston Latin School, the country's first public school—where Benjamin Franklin once studied; the Old Corner Book Store; the Old South Meeting House, starting point of the Boston Tea Party; the Old State House; the Site of the Boston Massacre; Faneuil Hall, meeting hall and marketplace; the Paul Revere House, Revere's home at the time of his famous 1775 ride; the Old North Church where Revere alerted his countrymen to British invasion; Copp's Hill Burying Ground, where nearly 1,000 free African Americans are buried; the USS Constitution or “Old Ironsides” and a corresponding museum; and the Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates the June 17, 1775 battle.

The foundation offers educational programs, one-hour interactive outreach performances, walking tours, and audio tours. The website offers informative articles for children, suggested reading, a curriculum guide for purchase, and podcasts.

The following sites along the trail also offer interactive educational programs: the State House, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, the USS Constitution, the USS Constitution Museum, and the Bunker Hill Monument.