New
New
Year 1

Seafaring 150 years ago

I can describe how seafaring was changing 150 years ago.

New
New
Year 1

Seafaring 150 years ago

I can describe how seafaring was changing 150 years ago.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By the time of John Franklin, navigation by sea had become more advanced.
  2. Seafarers used new inventions like sextants and chronometers to work out where they were.
  3. Larger, stronger ships meant that longer voyages were undertaken by European explorers.
  4. Franklin's expedition used a new type of ship, steamships, fitted with propellers and a heating system.
  5. During their voyage, Franklin's sailors had to endure freezing temperatures.

Keywords

  • Steamship - a steamship is a ship that uses a steam engine to help it move

  • Propeller - a propeller is something that spins in the water to move a ship forward

  • Sextant - a sextant is a measuring tool that measures the distance between two points

  • Chronometer - a chronometer is like a watch, it measures the passage of time

Common misconception

Inside places (like inside boats) are warmer than outside places.

Inside places have shelter from rain, so they're drier, but not necessarily warmer. If a place is cold, everywhere is cold unless heated.

Make sure there is a large wall clock in the classroom for you to refer to when you talk about chronometers, as it is unlikely that pupils will be wearing an analogue watch.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Choose the correct options to complete the sentences.
Correct Answer:John Franklin was in the,Navy.

Navy.

Correct Answer:John Franklin was ,English.

English.

Correct Answer:John Franklin was a,seafarer.

seafarer.

Q2.
What did John Franklin use to explore?
canoes
longboats
Correct answer: sailing ships
Q3.
John Franklin wanted to explore the...
forests
Correct answer: Northwest Passage
mountains
Q4.
Why did John Franklin's boats get stuck?
storms
rocks
Correct answer: ice
Q5.
John Franklin returned home after exploring the Northwest Passage.
true
Correct answer: false
Q6.
Why did John Franklin's crew leave their ships in the ice?
to live there
Correct answer: to find food
to drive home

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these makes a boat move forwards?
sextant
Correct answer: propeller
chronometer
Q2.
Which of these tools measures time?
sextant
compass
Correct answer: chronometer
Q3.
Which of these tools measures distance?
compass
Correct answer: sextant
chronometer
Q4.
What type of ships were invented about 150 years ago?
longboats
galley ships
Correct answer: steamships
Q5.
What part of a steamship was very important on Franklin's Arctic expedition?
engine
propeller
Correct answer: heating
Q6.
What was new on John Franklin's Navy ships?
Correct answer: a steam engine
flags
sails

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.