Literature Based Unit: Captain Cook

When implementing this Literature Based Unit, we suggest reading at least a couple of the books recommended below.  Activities are optional, feel free to choose whichever activities best suit your family.

We have endeavoured to select books that are likely to be accessible via your local libraries and don’t forget inter-library loans, we don’t want you to go into debt. We are not recommending you read all of these books.

 

We estimate it will take 3-5 weeks to read through this LBU and enjoy the activities of your choice relevant to your child’s age.

We have suggested books for all age groups, we recommend that your child reads at least one chapter book or a couple of picture books dependent on age.

Create your own personalised list by opening your book choice and simply clicking the wishlist button to add to your list.

 

*Wattle Gum Education: Literature Based Units – Captain Cook pdf

 

Image	Name	Writers	Illustrators	Tags	Series	Target Age	Print Status	Curriculums
	Captain Cook	Levene, Rebecca	Cuzik, David	1760-1770, Captain James Cook	Usborne Famous Lives: Young Reading Series 3	7-10 Years	In Print
	Captain Cook	MacLean, Alistair		Captain James Cook		Young Adult	In Print	AO Aust JD, AO9 Aust JD
	Captain Cook and the Endeavour	Lefroy, Mike		1760-1770, Captain James Cook		8-12 Years	In Print
	Captain Cook Explores the South Seas	Sperry, Armstrong		1760-1770, Captain James Cook	Landmark	8-18 Years	Out Of Print	AO Aust JD, AO4 Aust JD
	Captain Cook’s Apprentice	Hill, Anthony		1760-1770, Captain James Cook		13-18 Years	eBook, In Print
	Cook's Cook	Bishop, Gavin	Bishop, Gavin	Captain James Cook		5-12 Years	In Print
	James Cook, Royal Navy	Finkel, George		Captain James Cook		8-14 Years	Out Of Print	AO Aust JD, AO Aust PD, AO4 Aust JD, AO4 Aust PD
	Meet... Captain Cook	Murdie, Rae	Nixon, Chris	1760-1770, Captain James Cook	Meet...	5-10 Years	In Print
	Sailing The Unknown: Around the World With Captain Cook	Rosen, Michael J	Pritelli, Maria Cristina	1760-1770, Captain James Cook		9-13 Years	Out Of Print
	Stowaway	Hesse, Karen		1760-1770, Captain James Cook		10-14 Years	In Print	AO Aust JD, AO4 Aust JD
	The Goat Who Sailed The World	French, Jackie		1760-1770, Captain James Cook	Animal Stars	8-12 Years	In Print
	The Life of Captain James Cook	Beaglehole, J C		Captain James Cook		15-18 Years	In Print	AO Aust JD, AO9 Aust JD
	The Story of Captain Cook	Lang, John	Robinson, W Heath	1760-1770, Captain James Cook	The Children's Heroes Series	8-14 Years	eBook, In Print
	This is Captain Cook	McCartney, Tania	Booth, Christina	1760-1770, Captain James Cook		2-5 Years	In Print
	Tupaia, Isaac and Cook: The Search for the 'Great South Land'	Wilson, Mark	Wilson, Mark	1760-1770, Captain James Cook		6-10 Years	In Print
	You Wouldn't Want To Explore With Captain Cook!	Bergin, Mark	Antram, David	1760-1770, Captain James Cook		5-10 Years	In Print

Themes to Cover

• Nautical Terms; Longitude, Tides, Telescope.
• Historical Names; Captain Cook, Endeavour.
• Geography; Australian coastline.
• Cultural Awareness; First Nations.

 

Teacher’s Notes

• Cook’s Cook – Gavin Bishop
• Read NZ : Teacher’s Notes
• Meet…Captain Cook – Rae Murdie
• Penguin: Teacher’s Notes

 

Online Resources

• Captain Cook Society

 

Geography Activity

‘Chart’ Cook’s three voyages in the Pacific. Use a different colour to represent each journey.

• Mega Maps
• Kids Britannica – Cook’s Three Voyages
• Our Worldwide Classroom – Mapping Cook’s expedition to Australia.

 

History Activity

Select a youtube on Captain Cook and watch

• Captain Cook for Kids

 

STEM Research & Activities

• Look at longitude and tides what impact did this have on Cook’s journey

The Endeavour had scientists aboard including botanist Joseph Banks.

• Who was Joseph Banks?
• What was Captain Cook’s instructions regards the planetVenus?

Numerous plants were collected and animal observations were recorded throughout the Endeavour’s journey to Australia.

• Research and write about the ‘new discoveries.’

 

Language Arts Activities

Write a journal as if you were a cabin boy on cook’s voyage, either the journey, along Australian coastline

• Short Biography of Captain Cook – Ducksters
• More Detailed Bio of Cpt Cook – Scholastic

Design a timeline of Cook’s life

 

Further Research Areas & Discussion Questions

Today there is much discussion about the colonisation by Europeans in a land that was already occupied by our first Nations and yet was decalred Terra Nautlis.

• Read, reflect and, discuss your thoughts about this (older children)

 

Art/Craft Activities

Colour picture of Captain Cook (younger children)

• Our Worldwide Classroom – Captain Cook Colouring

Captain Cook used a Telescope

• Make a telescope

 

*Each unit is unique, this unit gives you a sample of what’s on offer