About Curriculum
lesson image


Fred was talking to his sister one day. He said, "Alice, what makes people say, 'Don't give up the ship'?"

Alice said, "I don't know. That's what the teacher said to me yesterday when I thought that I could not get my lesson."

"Yes," said Fred, "and that's what father said to me. I told him I never could learn to write well." He only said, "You must not give up the ship, my boy."

"I haven't any ship to give up," said Alice.

"And what has a ship to do with my writing?" said Fred.

"There must be some story about a ship," Alice said.

"Maybe grandfather would know," said Fred. "Let's ask him."

They found their grandfather writing in the next room. They did not wish to disturb him. They turned to leave the room.

But grandfather looked up just then. He smiled, and laid down his pen.

"Did you want something?" he asked. "We wanted to ask you a question," said Alice. "We want to know why people say, 'Don't give up the ship.'"

"We thought maybe there is a story to it," said Fred.

"Yes, there is," said their grandfather. "And I know a little rhyme that tells the story."

"Could you say it to us?" asked Alice.

"Yes, if I can think of it. Let me see. How does it begin?"

Grandfather leaned his head back in the chair. He shut his eyes for a moment. He was trying to remember.

"Oh, now I remember it!" he said.

Then he said to them these little verses:



When I was but a boy,

I heard the people tell

How gallant Captain Lawrence

So bravely fought and fell.



The ships lay close together,

I heard the people say,

And many guns were roaring

Upon that battle day.



A grapeshot struck the captain,

He laid him down to die:

They say the smoke of powder

Made dark the sea and sky.



The sailors heard a whisper

Upon the captain's lip:

The last command of Lawrence

Was, "Don't give up the ship."



And ever since that battle

The people like to tell

How gallant Captain Lawrence

So bravely fought and fell.



When disappointment happens,

And fear your heart annoys,

Be brave, like Captain Lawrence–

And don't give up, my boys!

story image

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Two children ask their grandfather what 'Don't give up the ship' means. Their grandfather tells the children a rhyme to explain the saying. In the rhyme, a ship's captain, Captain Lawrence, is mortally wounded during a gun battle. His last words were, 'Don't give up the ship,' which means to be brave like Captain Lawrence and to never give up.

Vocabulary

Verses: Writing typically having a rhyme.
Gallant: Brave, heroic.
Grape-shot: Ammunition consisting of multiple small iron balls fired together from a cannon.
Command: An order to do something.

Concepts

'Don't give up the ship' means to never give up and to keep fighting.

Have you ever felt like giving up on something?

  1. Perhaps you are having a hard time learning a subject in school.
  2. Maybe you are having a hard time mastering a new sport or a skill.
  3. When you are trying to achieve something and feel like giving up, remember Captain Lawrence, be brave, and tell yourself, 'Don't give up the ship.'

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 37 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 3: Explore the Story

  • Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, an American naval commander who knew Captain Lawrence, incorporated 'Don't give up the ship' into his personal battle flag.
  • Study Commodore Perry's battle flag below.
  • Zoom in on the painting below. Can you find the battle flag?
  • The flag still exists and is on display at the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland.

Review

Question 1

What happened to Captain Lawrence?
1 / 3

Answer 1

Captain Lawrence was mortally wounded in a gun battle.
1 / 3

Question 2

What were Captain Lawrence's last words?
2 / 3

Answer 2

Captain Lawrence's last words were, 'Don't give up the Ship.'
2 / 3

Question 3

What does 'Don't give up the Ship' mean?
3 / 3

Answer 3

'Don't give up the Ship' means to be brave, to keep on fighting, and to never give up.
3 / 3

  1. What happened to Captain Lawrence? Captain Lawrence was mortally wounded in a gun battle.
  2. What were Captain Lawrence's last words? Captain Lawrence's last words were, 'Don't give up the Ship.'
  3. What does 'Don't give up the Ship' mean? 'Don't give up the Ship' means to be brave, to keep on fighting, and to never give up.

Contact  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use © 2023 Under The Home Online Homeschool Curriculum
Contact      Privacy      Terms
youtube icon twitter icon pinterest icon facebook icon
© 2023 Under The Home