Cup of Gold - Activities
Journal of Key Terms | List of Characters | Geography in Cup of Gold
Cup of Gold Memory | Acting | Vivid Account
journal of key terms 
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Easy
Time:
Moderate
Learning Type:
Visual and Hands On
Materials:
- Journal/Pieces of blank paper
- Writing Instrument
- Internet Access/Dictionary/Encyclopedia
Description
Keeping a journal of Key Terms is one of the easiest ways to make the text interactive.
Anytime that you encounter a word or phrase that you do not understand, jot it down
in your journal. Right after you have written down the word, you have the option of
either looking up the word/phrase at that moment, or after you have finished the chapter.
Write down the definition or explanation of the word/phrase in your journal so that
you have it as a reference throughout the rest of the story.
list of characters
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Easy
Time:
Moderate
Learning Type:
Visual and Hands On
Materials:
- Journal/Pieces of blank paper
- Writing Instrument
Description
Keeping a List of Characters is another way to make the text interactive. Anytime
you come across a new character, write the name down in your journal. Keep a bulleted
list prepared underneath the name of each character and write down defining characteristics
of their personality or significant events that they are involved in.
This will help you create a clearer idea of each character and their purpose in the
story.
Geography in cup of gold
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Easy
Time:
Minimal
Learning Type:
Visual and Hands On
Materials:
- Paper
- Map of the Caribbean (either wall map or on a regular-sized piece of paper)
- Push pins (for wall map)
- Markers
Description
While reading through the text, keep a list of where Young Henry Morgan travels on his quest to find fame and fortune as a buccaneer. After each chapter (or, after the entire book has been read) print out a map of the Caribbean and plot the course Morgan traveled during the course of his life. This activity will provide a more hands-on experience of travel, knowledge about the world and corresponding time period, as well as providing tangible insight into the text by working with information from the text. It is especially useful if you are a hands-on learner.
This exercise can also be done on a standard sheet of paper, or on a poster board.
One modification of this exercise would be to trace the routes of other pirates such as Black Beard, Captain Kidd, Pierre LeGrand and other famous buccaneers. In this manner, you can compare and contrast their journeys with Morgan's journey, as well as find out when and where the men possibly connected in real life or during the same time period.
cup of gold memory
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Medium
Time:
Moderate
Learning Type:
Visual
Materials:
- Cards (either cut up cardboard or a deck of cards that can be marked up and pasted on)
- Colored pencils/markers (optional)
- Computer/printer (optional, but highly recommended)
Description
Cup of Gold memory can be played the same way as a typical memory game. It is an exercise that is especially good for visual learners. Put the group of cards face down on the floor in a square or rectangle shape and keep turning over cards until you have a match.
The memory cards can be created from scratch using construction paper and colored pencils/markers, or you can use a normal deck of cards and paste information over the numbered side.
Subject
The subject for memory will be up to your discretion, but a few suggestions are:
- People/Characters/Pirates: You can either find pictures on the internet or library to represent characters in the text and paste the name below the picture. Or, you can use the character name as a heading and write a short summary of the character below the name. Again, refer to the characters in the book or to the section of suggestions for further reading to develop more people, real or fictional, who adventured on the high seas during this impressive time in history. You can find pictures on the internet or library of the people mentioned and paste them on the cards with a short description of who they were or how they fit into a cultural reference.
- Places: Cup of Gold is a novel full of fun and adventurous travels across the globe. You can trace Henry's journey through his life, across the world, or expand and see how other pirates and historical figures fit into the novel or how the time periods correspond.
If you chose a memory game focusing on geography, you can find a picture of the city or country mentioned and paste is on a card with a brief description of its stats. Another option is to briefly write why the city/country is important in the story.
Another variation of this game would be to add the same countries, cities and land areas today compared to the time period of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries. Note all the similarities and differences, the changes and advances to these historical places across the world.
acting
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Medium
Time:
Moderate
Learning Type:
Auditory
Materials:
The activity doesnt require any materials, unless you choose to use props.
Description
Go through the text and find different key events and points of interest in the life of Young Henry Morgan. Research the setting, time period, the characters, and places he comes in contact with, and try to structure monologues and/or scenes depicting these events.
There are many relevant scenes to choose from in the text, such as any of the following:
- Young Henry hearing tales of high sea adventure
- Henry's interactions with his parents, Elizabeth and Merlin when he leaves home
- Henry's initial meeting and interactions with Honest Time and James Flower
- The preparations Henry endures in becoming a sea captain
- Morgan's defeat of Don Juan de Guzman
- His influential meeting with La Santa Roja
- Henry's courtroom scene as a judge against men he served with as a pirate.
- The last moments and thoughts of Sir Henry Morgan.
Focus on the changes in Henry Morgan as well as the inflection of the dialogue. Try to keep your interpretation true to the construct of the story. By performing pieces of the story, both actor and audience gain valuable insights into the life lessons and decisions Henry Morgan faced during his quest for fame and fortune.
presenting a vivid account of cup of gold with additional aid of historical facts and supplemental materials through written and oral presentation
Preparation
Difficulty Level:
Moderate
Time:
Moderate
Learning Type:
Auditory, Visual, Oral
Materials:
- Cup of Gold
- Supplemental Sources and further information on pirates, life of buccaneering, the slave trade, maps, drawings and vital information detailing life and the time period in which privateering existed.
- Props and additional maps, charts and valuable information
Description
By using the same list of pivotal scenes we developed in the acting activity, you can research additional information and supplemental support about the time period, events, descriptions, people, and customs to integrate social and historical references with the text.
In this manner, you can write and/or act scenes compiled from the actual text and supporting sources. You may want to adapt the historical aspects to your acting as well to give more of a polished performance authenticating the main ideas of the dialogue and events of the text. You may also want to record your findings, write them in research report form and/or make a video presentation of your findings. All sources are challenging and insightful ways to deepen your understanding of the life of Henry Morgan as well as gaining more knowledge about privateering and the time period of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Setting | Character Summaries | Plot Synopsis | Reception
Cultural References | Key Terms and Concepts