Act Like The Captain Of A Ship!
Dress up as a ship captain, build a cardboard helm and map a short route, learn basic commands, simple knots, and practice steering.
Step-by-step guide to act like the captain of a ship
Step 1
Gather all the materials and bring them to a clear workspace.
Step 2
Put on your captain hat or tie the scarf to dress up like a ship captain.
Step 3
Use the marker and ruler to draw a circle about 30 cm across on the cardboard for the helm face.
Step 4
Cut out the circle from the cardboard along the drawn line.
Step 5
Make a small hole in the center of the cardboard circle.
Step 6
Push the stick or broom handle through the center hole and tape it firmly to create the helm handle.
Step 7
Decorate the helm with colouring materials and draw numbers or nautical symbols.
Step 8
Take a sheet of paper and draw a simple map showing a short route with two or three landmarks.
Step 9
Lay the map out beside your play area and use masking tape to mark the same route on the floor.
Step 10
Learn four basic captain commands and practice saying them aloud once each (for example Starboard Port Full speed ahead Slow down).
Step 11
Hold your cardboard helm and walk slowly along the taped route to practice steering.
Step 12
While steering along the route call out the captain commands at the right moments.
Step 13
Use the string to make an overhand knot by crossing one end over the other and pulling it through.
Step 14
Tie a second overhand knot in the opposite direction to finish a square knot and tighten it securely.
Step 15
Take a photo or write a short note about your captain adventure and share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of a stick or broom handle if I can't find one?
If you don't have a stick or broom handle for step 5, use a sturdy cardboard tube, wooden dowel, or a tightly rolled and taped newspaper pushed through the center hole and taped firmly as the helm handle.
My helm wobbles or the tape keeps coming off—how can I fix it?
If the helm handle wobbles during step 5, reinforce it by adding extra tape layers, a dab of glue, or small cardboard washers around the center hole before taping the stick firmly.
How can I adapt this activity for very young children or older kids?
For toddlers, have an adult pre-cut the cardboard circle and push the stick while the child decorates and practices two simple commands, and for older kids, draw a more detailed map with extra landmarks, add numbered helm positions, and time the taped-route steering.
How can we make the captain activity more fun or personalized?
To extend the activity, glue on nautical stickers or LEDs after decorating the helm, add a paper compass and extra landmarks to the map, and invite friends to steer the taped route while you time and call out new captain commands.
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Facts about nautical skills for kids
⚓ The bowline is a favourite sailing knot because it makes a secure loop that’s still easy to untie.
🧭 Sailors have used the North Star (Polaris) for navigation at night for hundreds of years.
🌀 Ship's wheels became common in the 1700s — before that, crews steered with a tiller connected directly to the rudder.
🎯 Steering a ship is teamwork: the captain gives commands like 'port' or 'starboard' while the helmsman turns the wheel.
🚢 The word 'captain' comes from Latin and for centuries meant the person in charge of the whole ship and crew.
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