Grade 4 Sets Sail Through History on the Sultana

On October 30, eager Grade 4 students sailed on the Sultana, a modern vessel that is a full-scale replica of a 97’ topsail schooner that patrolled the mid-Atlantic, enforcing the hated “Townshend Duties” for Britain’s Royal Navy in the years preceding the American Revolution. Riding aboard this ship allowed students to step back in time and learn about the rich maritime and ecological history of this important waterway. 

As the students arrived in Chestertown, MD, their excitement was palpable. Dressed in their best explorer gear, they were greeted by knowledgeable tour guides who shared fascinating stories about the 1768 Sultana replica, which serves as a floating classroom, explaining how the vessel played a significant role in American History by searching inbound ships from Europe, the Caribbean, and New England. At this time, American sailors were becoming increasingly intolerant of the Royal Navy’s searches, and, occasionally, Sultana was met with violent resistance in the course of her duties. 

Once aboard, the students participated in various hands-on activities and learned about life during the late 1700s and early 1800s along with the ecology and geography of the Chesapeake Bay region. They trawled for fish and crabs, measured the depth of the river, read a map of the river, and learned about maritime life in the 18th century. The students could also go below deck to see where the crew slept and examples of what they ate, the games they played, and their medical tools. Tying into their initial social studies and language arts units, students used the Chesapeake Bay as their classroom for the day, examining the history and ecology of the area with their classmates and discovering the events that led to the need for British naval vessels such as the Sultana to patrol these waters. 

Of note, Grade 4 students learned that the laws Sultana enforced drove the colonists to reassess fundamental assumptions about government and society that had shaped Europe for more than two thousand years. The egalitarian principles that took root in America during Sultana’s years have been the driving force behind much of American history ever since. Throughout the trip, students engaged in discussions about the impact of the Sultana’s voyages and the lessons learned from the past.  

In addition to their time on the schooner, students were led by a team of experts through three sessions of hands-on experiences, including an interactive history of the Chesapeake Bay, examining local artifacts,  and learning to play colonial-style games. It was a fun, memorable experience for everyone!