Captain's Cabin
In his quarters at the stern of ship, the captain enjoys a luxury that everyone else aboard lacks: space. In this roomy, calm, comfortable cabin, he plans the ship’s route, and makes decisions that might win or lose a battle or a war. It’s a big responsibility, and it’s his alone. With the fate of the ship and the lives of its 450 crew in his hands, a couple of luxurious cabins seem small rewards.
SAILOR’S STORY
Captain Issac Hull
Read Captain Hull’s Journal with your students and explore some personal belongings in artifacts from the USS Constitution Museum’s collections.
GAMES
Captain’s Coming!
Work on board Constitution was completed by the sailors, and orders came down the ranks, usually from the Captain. Get your students outside and active and try our versions of Simon Says, called Captain’s Coming!
RESOURCE
Rank and Responsibilities of a Captain
What responsibilities and challenges did Captain Hull face while in charge of a large ship and crew? See his list of responsibilities and start a list with your students about the responsibilities and challenges of being in charge of a ship or a classroom. How does a ship or a classroom function with just one person in charge? Explore further by thinking about the responsibilities of the principle of their school, their guardian at home or world leaders.
LESSON PLANS
Charting the Ship’s Progress
Captain Hull is charting the Ship’s progress. With your students, try to steer Constitution in an interactive game. Build on this game with lesson plans about navigation on the high seas with NASA’s Build a Simple Sextant and the Institute of Navigation’s How to Be a Great Navigator.
