10th Grade Pre-Trip Activity
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT


Whaling In the 19th Century
 
To prepare for your visit to Mystic Seaport, you will take a virtual tour of the
Charles W. Morgan
the last remaining whaling ship in the world.  You'll board this ship on the day of your visit to Mystic.  For this project, you'll first view some video clips, listen to sound clips, and try out 3-D panoramic video clips as well.  All of this will familiarize you with both whaling in the 19th century and the Charles W. Morgan.
 Charles W. Morgan
After you've seen all of the clips and listened to the commentary, you'll use your word processor for this assignment...
 
It is 1870 and you are a fifteen year old young man about to take off on your first trip as a "greenhand" on a whaling ship.  You've spent a month aboard ship helping to get it ready for a three-year whale hunting journey.  Write a 150-word letter to your mother back home describing your new home aboard ship.
 
Rubric: Highest scores will go to assignments with the most specific details of the Charles W. Morgan.  Grammar and spelling, as always, count.  Your letter will be graded according the the Salesian High School Writing Rubric.  Review this rubric in the Student Manual section of your Agenda Book.
 
Watch to a short introductory video clip.
Click here

All About Whaling
Watch a video clip about the life of a whaler.  Click here
Watch a short film about whaling titled
"Hunting Leviathan."  Click here
Note...the text you hear in the movie "Hunting Leviathan" is taken from Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Life Aboard the Charles W. Morgan...a virtual tour
The video clips listed below are 3-D panoramic video clips.  Use your mouse to change the view left, right, up or down.  Use the SHIFT key to move into the image and the CONTROL key to move out.  Play the sound clips to learn about the places on the Charles W. Morgan you are seeing.
The Bow...click here
Listen to a description...click here
The Steering Wheel...click here
Listen to a description...click here
Captain's Quarters
The Day Cabin...click here
The Captain's Salon...click here
The Bedroom...click here
Listen to a description...click here
Whaling
The Cutting Stage...click here
The Blubber Room...click here
Listen to a description...click here
The Tryworks...click here
Listen to a description...click here
The Forecastle...where YOU live!
Check out your bedroom and bathroom...click here
See where you eat your meals: the Mess...click here
Here's where most of your time is spent: the ship's Hold...click here
 
Now that you've spent time aboard the Charles W. Morgan, you're ready to write that letter home!
 
Click here to return to the American History Academy page.