 Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of
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Wait a minute. Space may well be the final frontier but we have something much closer to home that covers 2/3 of the planet and is largely unexplored. I refer to all the oceans and seas that cover our world. Not only the waters themselves, but all the wonderful and exotic things they hold (both above and below the surface) from the unusual plant and animal life to the other people populating small islands that remain largely untouched by modern civilization. So, let's tweak that opening just a bit, shall we?
Earth's oceans, a largely unexplored frontier. These are the voyages of S/V Midnight Star, on it's 5 year mission to explore strange new worlds (islands and unusual habitats), to seek out new life (or prehistoric life as we will be visiting the Galapagos Islands) and new (ancient) civilizations, to boldly go where few have gone before.
Our goal is to be an unusual and highly interactive resource for schools, classrooms and teachers. As we do a circumnavigation and travel off the beaten path of regular tourism, our experiences and interaction with our ever-changing surroundings can be used as teaching points across all subjects and grade levels. It is our great hope that some students may follow our voyage through all 5 years (and beyond) in classroom settings (or on their own) and perhaps learn in a fun and interesting way about life beyond their own hometown and to better appreciate the great nation that we live in.
Some of the subjects that our voyages would be useful to use for teaching are pretty obvious: Geography, Biology, and Sociology. However, Math (charting courses & distances, wind speed & direction and how all these things affect the travel) History (historic voyages, trade routes, even the part piracy actually played in naval history) Chemistry (effects of sea water on various compounds, different plants and other items still being mixed for dyes, inks, special treatments) Language (English may take a secondary seat here, but can be used for writing essays about various aspects of the voyage) Physics (how ocean currents/tides interact with land mass, how wind and sail trim affects direction and velocity of the vessel) and Life Science Courses (Shop, cooking, engine repair, wood working, arts & crafts) could also be covered as coursework.
Then there would be the more unusual things that could be brought up in class as course subjects. Things not usually taught but very interesting: Astronomy, Meteorology, Oceanography, Archeology, and survival skills.
In lower grades where the kids stay in one classroom, Midnight Star could be used as a focal point to tie all the subjects together making for a truly unique learning experience through part or all of the year. Students could be encouraged (at all ages) to keep in touch with the voyage and its progress over the summer. Teachers can use as much or as little of the information we gather as desired. We want to be highly interactive trying to come up with answers to specific questions that students may have at any particular point of the voyage. Within the confines of our specific course, we want to make this learning experience as rich as possible and are willing to veer off on side trips and to explore unexpected finds. There will be a detailed ships log, pictures and video available through the Midnight Star's Educational site as well as personal interaction via email and possibly satellite link.
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