Where in the World is Baltimore?

OBJECTIVES:

The students will:

1. locate Baltimore in relation to the sailing trade routes of Great Britain.

2. explain the importance of Baltimore's location to privateers during the War of 1812.

MATERIALS: Map of the Atlantic Ocean region, map of Baltimore's harbor and other classroom resources.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Divide the students into cooperative groups and distribute a map of the Atlantic Ocean region. Use classroom resources, such as maps, atlases and globes, to assist the group in locating and labeling on their desk map the following sites:

Atlantic Ocean		Caribbean Sea
Chesapeake Bay		Baltimore
Great Britain		Gulf Stream

Have the students decide the route that sailing ships would have taken to get from the Caribbean Sea to Great Britain. Be sure that the students are aware of the role of prevailing winds and ocean currents that were important in propelling sailing ships across the Atlantic Ocean. Use a marker or crayon to mark this route on the maps.

2. Ask the students to imagine that they are sailing ship captains from Baltimore. Have them list the reasons why Baltimore was a good location for privateers. Encourage the students to use their maps as the basis for their ideas. Ask the students to create a skit in which they attempt to convince Baltimore businessmen to put up money to outfit a privateer. Remind the students that privateers were licensed pirate vessels that could sell their prizes (the ships and cargoes of enemy merchant vessels captured).

Lesson #1: Where in the World is Baltimore?

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