The following suggestions are starting points. Dig deeper into any
subject in which your children show an interest.
Chapter 1: Discuss the setting of the book. Discuss what an
historical fiction novel is. Find Salem on a map. How long did the Revolutionary
War last? Was Nat superstitious? Discuss the process Nat's mother used
to start their fire. What is a nor'easter? Find out more about the House
of Seven Gables.
Chapter 2: Read the story of Jonah in the Bible. Find out what
a sloop, schooner and square rigger are. Discuss privateers. Were they
pirates or was it justified? Have there been privateers at other times
in history? Why would a sailor sell an expectation?
Chapter 3: Why didn't Master Watson believe Nat worked the problem?
What were schools like in Nat's time? What is an apothecary shop? Go
to an auction to see how one is done. Find out what continental currency
is.
Chapter 4: What is a letter of marque ship? Learn about the
last battle of the war when Cornwallis was taken. What was the Treaty
called that ended the war? Learn more about Captain John Derby.
Chapter 5: What was the life of an apprentice like? What is
a chandlery? Learn more about Dr. Bentley.
Chapter 6: Why was Ben so unhappy? Llearn more about the way
ships tracked their speed.
Chapter 7: Can you think of another person who wrote almanacs?
Find Cambridge on the map. Nat kept notebooks about anything that interested
him. If you don't do notebooking already, try researching a subject
that interests you and put the information into a notebook, scrapbook
or lapbook.
Chapter 8: A lot of our words come from Latin. Learn a few.
Nat is learning Latin so he can be prepared in case his chance ever
arises to attend college. Is that smart?
Chapter 9: What can you find out about Richard Kirwan, Irish
scientist?
Chapter 10: Find out more about Nathan Read's inventions. Try
to tell time using the big dipper and North Star. Learn about some of
the sailing tools mentioned.
Chapter 11: Learn more about freedom of the press. Find out
why France and England were fighting. What is a Derby ship?
Chapter 12: See if you can take a lunar. Learn about longitude
and latitude.
Chapter 13: How did Nat's new way of checking lunars work? Find
out about the French Revolution.
Chapter 14: Trace their journey on a map. Why were the French
causing trouble with American ships? Learn about the culture of Lisbon.
Chapter 15: Continue tracing their journey. What else can you
find out about the East India Trading Company? (What part did they play
in the Boston Tea Party?)
Chapter 16: What can you find out about Manila Harbor? Why was
Nat disappointed at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 17: How did the American navy get its start? Learn more
about the history of the navy. Who was Dr. Holyoke? What is a husking
bee?
Chapter 18: Trace their route. How was Napoleon beaten?
Chapter 19: What is consumption? Who invented the small pox
vaccine? Did Salem really build a frigate for the navy?
Chapter 20: Why did teaching the sailors make them better behaved?
What is a monsoon?
Chapter 21: How was sealing done then and now?
Chapter 23: Learn about typhoons. What is the culture of Sumatra
like?
Disclaimer: All links
are for informational purposes only - a link to a web site does not imply
agreement with or endorsement of that site. Because of the changing nature
of the internet, always preview a site before viewing it with your children.
