of Charlotte Doyle
The True Confessions
Name
Name
A Quandary of Quotes
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Mind Your Watch
“The True
Confessions of
have
Use the
below
ships’
time chart below to identify the times listed.
Charlotte Doyle
up! Some of the letters in theI. words
Write the actual time in the space
The words of the crew have gotten all mixed
”
it next to its symbol
Answer Keys
figure out each letter, write provided.
As youyle
been replaced with symbols and numerals.
Do
tte
quote,
each
arlo
rewrite
to
Ch
Page 5
ns of Next, use the treasure chest
below.
chest
nfessio
Co
e
or numeral in the treasure
Tru
The
1. c
crewman is trying to say. The first one
the
think
you
what
write
Then
letters.
Page 7
8. l
replacing the missing
Ships’ Time Chart
2. k
1. 9:30 a.m.
9. g
is done for you.
3. e
midwatch
10. j
2. 12:00 a.m.
= 12:00 a.m. (midnight)–4:00 a.m. 1 bell
= the first half hour after4.
@##28 5 %i@5l %ri#@2,” says
5lw5y8
“&@#
f
1.
the
watch
begins
morning watch
11. b
3. 7:00 p.m.
Name
= 4:00 a_
.m.–8:00 a.m.
final
a
_______
2
bells
o
needs
=
the
_______
5.
always
second
“One
Wh
half hour
d
do.
Zachariah in chapter 2. _______
12. h
forenoon watch
4. 6:30 a.m.
= 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (noon)
would say or
3 bells = the third half hour
6. a
him
_____
to sew
s name
w members
a friend
_______
needs
dies, he_______
_______
a sailor
_______
5. 12:30 p.m.
friend.” When
afternoon
w member’
_______
watch
ch of the cre
= 12:00 p.m.(noon)–4:00 p.m.
4 bells = the fourth half hour 7. i
Treasure Chest
tch each cre
of things ea
_____
overboard.
_______
his body
6. 2:00 a.m.
t the types
throw_______
ers? Then ma
first
and
dog watch
_______
oth
hammock
his
_______
=
4:00
lp
into
p
.
m
.–6:00
_______
he
p
.
m
.
Think abou
to
=
8
5 bells = the fifth half hour
@ =
o tries
7. 5 bells afte
second dog watch = 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
things? Wh
the royal
r afternoon wat
2 =
6 bells = the sixth half hour
b up to In
says mean
% =
says, “I 8h5ll *r#5k
st fits him.
ch
8 Captain Jaggery
chapter
8. forenoon wat
2.
.
Charlotte clim
night watch
iption that be
= 8:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
ch or 8 bells afte
= t
4 tha
low crewman
7 bells = the seventh half hour
Page 6
to the descr
& in=chapter 13
r morning watch
9. 2 bells afte
______________________
ests
rve as a fel
will.”____
gg
se
my
4&
su
to
4h#m
ss
He
ne
r first dog watch
a.
8 bells = the eighth half hour @
.
= r willing5 =
#ve he
=the nend of the watch
12
and
ter
10.
ap
_____
pro
2
ch
6
_______
to
bells after midwat
= d
until
yard
_______
nk_____________________
% = f
ch
* an=barely speaks at all
11. 7 bells afte
4 = t
arlotte her tru
Ch
_____
wm
s
_______
r
ng
cre
nigh
_______
is
bri
_______
w
t
Th
wat
rlo
& = o
ch
______________
b.
12. 3 bells afte
pit old sailor
5 = a
_____ 1. Ba
r morning watch
2, this decre on board.
# = e
y
c. In chapter
the cause of
her not to sta
* = b
that she is
and warns
anick
chapter 14
in
__
e
_______
12.
ott
chapter
arl
in
8
Fisk
_____ 2. Cr
= s
warns Mr.
tells Ch
Mi88 2&yl#, *#w5r# him,”
sailor
%ri#@2,
y&ur ve
“*#w5r#
1. 3 bells after forenoon
.
nd
d. This 3.
________________________________
some, blo_______
Students’ ________
in’s every mo
______________________________
responses_____
ung, hand_______
the capta
a yo_______
_______
_______
to the meaning
ing
_______in
chapter 9 as
Possible answer
s of the quotes
_________
_____ 3. Ew
_______
_______
_______
roduced ___________________________________
s are listed.
may vary.
int
2.
8
bells
is
after
night
watch
He
e.
________________________________
_______
duties in
1. “One________
’s
ah
ari
always nee
____
ch
n.
ds a final friend.”
____
Scotsma
_______
es over Za
_______
tak
k
m#rcy.”
&ur
an
Fis
cl5im8
h#
When a sailor
nee
wm
m5@
5
ds a friend to sew
10 Zachariah states, “58
_____ 4.
, this cre
dies, he
chapter
In
3. 2 bells after second dog watch
12
4.
ter
him
ap
into
ch
________________________________
his hammock and
f. In
body________
in. He
overboard____
round rob_______
throw his
.
.
______________________________
sign the _______
the galley
2. “I shall bre
_______
in
doesn’t_______
______________
ley
ak them to my
__
wman who
h is demoted
4. 5_______
bells after_______
cre
etc
ly
morning
Ke
_____ 5. Fo
_______
will.
watch
on
_______
en
”
I
_______
________
will
the
wh
they
_______
________
treat the crew har
_______
________________do
mate
what I say
_______
nd _______
g. He is _______
________
co
____
se
.
shly until
ed
int
3. “Beware you
is then appo
ok, 8hirki@g w&rk,”
Captain
r friend, Miss Doy
ip’s5co
85il&r
imes
lik#
5. 1snarls
bell after afternoon watch
as the sh
12. &@# r5@k8 %&r cr#54iv#
le, beware him
Captain
________________________________
“@&
_____ 6. Gr
5. ter
himselfg#@iu8
chap
Jaggery,
.” Be careful of
________
____
____________
who you think
introduces
_______
ilor
_______
sa
_______
s
_______
is
thi
_______
your friend, bec
not truly a frien
8. _______
ter 2, in chapter
her.
Jaggery
d.
ause he is
h. In chap
ter 15.
6. 4 _______
r, and preac
bells after_______
midwatch__
4. “As a man
llybrass
ane in chap
_____________________
________________________________
, carpente
he claims
_______
the hurric_______
_____ 7. Ho
surgeon
_______red
________
_______
during _______
ains
__
man being, he ____ our mercy.” Because Mr. Cra
murde
mate rem
___________________________________
t mate is
deserves to be
_______
nick is a hu_______
second
s
_______
thi
_______ve
t
This firs
_______
i.
tha
take
5.
“No one ranks
n care of.
ggery
disco red
for creative gen
ter 21, it is
_____ 8. Ja
ius like a sailor
84#52y &@ 4h# r&p#8. 2&@’4 y&u
Sailors are gen
y&ur #y#8
ptain
“K##p
j. In6.chap
shirking work.”
Ewing tells Charlotte,rde
13in.
II. Use the ships’ time chart above to write
iuses when it com
In chapter
capta
red by the ca
these hours in ships’ time.
___________
es to thinking of
doing work.
faithful to the
y and is mu
tin_______
mu_
___________________________________
ways to avoid
n
the
so
up.”
&r
ds
hn
2&w@.
lea
Jo
l&&k
y
6. “Keep your
wawa
__
_____ 9.
_______
_______
d
eye
_______
an
_______
k. This sto
s
stea
7.
_______
ss
2:30
p.m.
_______
dy on the ropes.
________________________________________
_______
w ruthle
up.” ________
Don’t you look
apter 10. ______________
You must_______
________
in ch_______
discovers ho
focus on the rop
down. Or
arlotte _______
_______________________
_______
Ch
,
_______
12
h
_______
es
d
etc
you
up
an
or down or you
are climbing. Do
s 11______________
_______
_____10. Ke
will fall.
really is.
8. 8:00 a.m.
N
not look
l. In chapter
________________________________________
leader N
7. “One shipmat
________
________e______
in chapter 17. __________________
rful this ship’s
helps another.”
we
po
W
8hipm54# h#lp8 5@&4h#r,” Zachariah states
I
“&@#
am
7.
you
willi
are
ng
n
one of the crew
to help you bec
____
rga
_______
W
_______
_______
_______
9.
.
ause
5:00
p.m.
_______
________
_____11. Mo
_______
8.
________
_______
“Sweet are the
E
________________________________
N
______________
______________
uses of adversi
E
ty.” When things
well, I can take
W
__________________
ox
are not going
S
advantage of the
©The Mailb
___________________________________
chariah
_______
10. 3:00 a.m.
Za
_______
.
________
situ
12
do
_
________
atio
extr
S
__
________
n
a work. _______
__
________________________________
by having the crew
E
__
_______
8.
chapter
in
y”
&% 52v#r8i4
8. Captain Jaggery says, “8w##4 5r# 4h# u8#8
Independent
Contract
11. _______
S
____
11:30 p.m._______
________
________________________________________
______________
______________
Independent Contrac
___________________________________
t
Name:___________________________
Number of activities
____to be completed: _______
______________
12. _______
5:30 a.m. _______
Name:_______________
________________________________________
___________________________________
____________ Number
______________________
6
of activities to be comp
©The Mailbox
leted: _______
©The Mailbox
2.
by Avi
1.
Art
Language Arts
7
7.
Langua
ge Arts
Charlotte is first introduced to many of the
When Charlotte begins her voyage, she has
8.
About the Book
©The
Wri
?
of the Crew
Who’s Who
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
of
The True Confessions
Charlotte Doyle
®
5
The True Confessions
of Charlotte Doyle
®
®
crewmen in chapter 3 when they assemble
before the captain. In all of Charlotte’s proper
and refined life, she has never seen such a
sorry-looking group of men. At this point in the
story the crew is little more than a group of
names, but as the story develops so does her
relationship with each of them. Obtain a copy
of page 5 from your teacher and complete it as
directed to test your knowledge of the crew.
Doyle’s
e students, Charlotte
In this novel for matur
to be something
tic in 1832 turns out
es her
voyage across the Atlan
it is an event that chang
more than a simple trip—
ter Charlotte
arranges for his daugh
life forever. Mr. Doyle
ing the ship,
his ships. Upon board
of
one
on
home
to travel
e on board.
she will be the only femal
Charlotte learns that
ing a mutiny
ers that the crew is plann
Charlotte soon discov
in’s side,
first taking the capta
against the captain. After
win back
to
rately
despe
ke and tries
she realizes her mista
of the voyage,
of the crew. At the end
girl she
the trust and respect
she is not the same young
that
es
realiz
otte
Charl
she belongs.
must now find out where
once was and that she
3.
About the Author
5.
• Activity #3:
• Activity #4:
• Activity #5:
• Activity #6:
copy of page 5
uction
poster board, white constr
rs, scissors
paper, crayons or marke
world map
paper, pencil
olored
1 sheet of 12" x 18" light-c
construction paper
3
c. flour, /8 tsp.
1
/8 tsp. baking soda, 1
4 tsp. maple
salt, 3 tbsp. buttermilk,
ning
1
syrup, 1 /2 tbsp. shorte
copy of page 6
tall tales
copy of page 7
re
masking tape, tape measu
hurricanes,
reference materials on
hurricane tracking map,
construction paper
y and
ce materials on mutin
• Activity #12: referen
round robins
•
•
•
•
•
Activity #7:
Activity #8:
Activity #9:
Activity #10:
Activity #11:
Mailbox
“Chaos on shipboard
is sailing without a
rudder.” These words
of wisdom are typical
of
the captain, who speak
s them on the first day
he invites Charlotte to
tea in his cabin. The
rudder is what steers
the ship. The captain
uses this metaphor to
compare the image of
a
ship sailing out of contro
l to a crew that is out
of control. Obtain a copy
of page 6 from your
teacher and complete
it as directed to match
each sailor with his quote
.
Social Studies
4.
9.
Charlotte’s life aboard the Seahawk is quite
boring until she becomes a member of the
crew. Then she shares all the chores and
responsibilities with the rest of the crewmen.
Reread the first few pages of chapter 14. Then
make a list of the chores Charlotte is required
to do. Choose five of the chores to act out and
explain to your classmates.
6.
1.
3.
©The Mailbox®
Math
Science
11.
Mix together 1/8 teaspon baking soda, 1 cup flour,
and 3/8 teaspoon salt. Then use a fork to mix in 3
tablespoons buttermilk, 4 teaspoons maple syrup,
and 11/2 tablespoons shortening. Knead the mixture
to make dough.
Use a rolling pin to roll the dough very thin. Then put
the dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet, cut it
into squares, and poke holes in it using a fork.
With adult supervision, bake the dough at 425° for
about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool
before serving.
The crew members of
the Seahawk entertain
one another with yarns
, or tall tales, of life at
sea. When it comes to
their yarns, Charlotte
isn’t always sure what
is true and what isn’t.
Read some tall tales to
see
can be stretched to create how a simple story
a yarn. Use your
imagination to write your
own yarn about the
sea. Try to impress your
classmates with your
tale, just as the sailors
tried to impress each
other.
8
Math
Charlotte gasps at the
sight of the cabin to
which she is assigned.
It is small and dark,
measuring 6 feet long,
4 feet wide, and 41/2 feet
high. Estimate how many
of your classmates
could fit into the room.
Then estimate your
classmates’ heights and
make a list of the
classmates who could
stand up straight in the
cabin. Tape the meas
ureme
the floor in front of a chalkb nts of the cabin on
oard. Draw a line
on the chalkboard showi
ng where the 41/2-foot
ceiling would be. With
your classmates’ help,
check your estimates.
Science
The crew of the Seaha
wk is put to the test
when they encounter
a hurricane. The feroci
ty
of the storm—with its
thunder, lightning, winds
,
and rain—makes it almos
t impossible for
the crew members to
hear each other. The
violent movement of the
ship makes every
step a major struggle.
Research hurricanes
to find out how they are
formed, how they are
categorized, what to do
if caught in one, and
any other interesting inform
ation. Then present
your research in a weath
er report with maps
showing where most hurric
anes develop.
ting
®
10.
The sailors have a specia
lized vocabulary that
includes words pertaining
to things of the sea
and sailing. Their way
of telling time is based
on time periods called
watches. To keep track
of the time, a series of
bells ring. Sailors don’t
talk about the time of
day by the hour, but
rather by the watch or
the bells. Obtain a copy
of page 7 from your teach
er to practice telling
time the nautical way.
On the ship Charlotte eats hardtack, or sailor’s
bread. Follow the recipe below to make a batch
of hardtack.
2.
2
®
©The Mailbox
Art
In chapter 1 Charlotte asks about the type
of ship the Seahawk is. She is told it is a
brig, or two-masted ship. Study the diagrams
provided in the appendix of the book. Then, on
construction paper, draw and label a diagram
of the Seahawk. Show the crew, the captain,
and Charlotte aboard the ship.
als List
Student Contract Materi
• Activity #1:
• Activity #2:
Math
The voyage from England to Rhode Island
during Charlotte’s time period typically took one
to two months. Look on a map and determine
the distance between these two places. Figure
out how many miles per day they would need
to travel to get to Providence in one month
and then two months. Skim through the book
to find out the exact date the Seahawk set sail
and when it arrived in Providence. How many
days was this? Use this information to find the
average number of miles they traveled each
day. Compare this with how fast the average
automobile can travel per hour!
with his
1937, Avi was raised
Born on December 23,
His name was
in Brooklyn, New York.
old, and
brother and twin sister
when they were one year
sister
his
by
him
to
given
high
of
out
d
nt. After he almost flunke
stude
strong
a
on
d
not
it stuck. Avi was
e school that focuse
ed him in a small privat
or
school, his parents enroll
r insisted he go to a tutor
Here, his English teache
ng to
reading and writing.
how to write and learni
the summer learning
fail the course. Avi spent
r’s
and received a maste
want to write.
University of Wisconsin
not set
Avi graduated from the
rsity in 1964. Avi did
e from Columbia Unive
Sometimes Happen,
degree in library scienc
first book, Things That
His
.
books
loved
en’s
he
out to write childr
Avi learned that
he played with his sons.
from his
came out of a game that
and that the response
that he was good at it,
to write for children,
d.
readers was his rewar
proper lady’s attire. Her clothing, complete with
dresses, shoes, and gloves, is neatly wrapped
in tissue paper in her trunk. Later, when she
wants to prove her resolve to join the crew, she
changes into a pair of trousers and a blouse.
Design and cut out a poster board model of
Charlotte, and then illustrate and cut out several
outfits for her to wear. Use the cutouts to act out
the scene where she decides to become one of
the crew, or one of your favorite scenes.
12.
Research
Charlotte goes to Capta
in Jaggery with the
report that she saw the
document he had
warned her about, a round
robin, or pact among
the crew to commit mutin
y. When Charlotte
discovers a round robin
does exist, her whole
life changes. Find the
definition for mutiny and
round robin in the diction
ary. Then write an
article for the Providence
Daily News about the
mutiny on the Seahawk.
Make sure your article
answers who, what, when,
where, why, and
how.
3
©The Mailbox®
4