A Yankee ship came down the river
Blow, boys, blow!
Her masts and spars they shone like silver
Blow my bully boys blow!
How do you know she’s a Yankee liner?
Blow, boys, blow!
The Stars and Stripes float out behind her.
Blow my bully boys blow!
If Homeschooling is so much fun, why not try Schooner Schooling? Happymess joined a homeschool schooner and discovered some elementary truths about life on the water.
How do you know she’s a Yankee packet?
Blow, boys, blow!
They fired a gun, I heard the racket
Blow my bully boys blow!
This 80 foot schooner is powered by…can you guess? Yes..WIND …and Muscle. The kids raised all 4 sails and were nearly undone by the amount of strength required.
And who d’you think is the captain of her?
Blow, boys, blow!
Why, Bully Hayes is the captain of her.
Blow my bully boys blow!
We really hadn’t thought about the fact that sailors sang while they worked. The schooner First Mate led the Halyard Raising songs with great Sea-Gusto and soon all the kids were heaving and pulling in time to the beat. Can you feel it?
Oh, Bully Hayes, he loves us sailors;
Blow, boys, blow!
Yes, he does like hell and blazes!
Blow my bully boys blow!
This put an entirely new light on our Early Explorer history lessons. Now we hear the sounds of the ship and breathe the fresh salty air; we feel both the excitement of adventure and the exhaustion of pulling the lines.
And who d’you think is the mate aboard her:
Blow, boys, blow!
Santander James is the mate aboard her.
Blow my bully boys blow!
The boards sway under our feet as we scan the horizon. Azure skies knock against the quiet rocking of the boat. Lines are coiled quickly and sails are set to the wind.
Santander James, he’s a rocket from hell, boys,
Blow, boys, blow!
He’ll ride you down as you ride the spanker.
Blow my bully boys blow!
We feel the lure of the sea that led young boys to leave the security of their mainland homes and jump ship, seeking adventures in the New World.
And what d’you think they’ve got for dinner?
Blow, boys, blow!
Pickled eels’ feet and bullock’s liver.
Blow my bully boys blow!
Like pirates, the children rule this floating school. They drop the nets, dredge the bottom, heave them back on deck (still singing) and explore their living treasures.
This flounder is flat as a pancake with both eyes on one side, “The better to see you with, my dear.”
Then blow, my bullies, all together,
Blow, boys, blow!
Blow, my boys, for better weather.
Blow my bully boys blow!
Marine biologists explain that the color of the sea (dark green) is due to the millions of plankton that live in the water. Although plankton are individually invisible, they are so numerous that they color the entire body of water.
Blow, boys, blow, the sun’s drawing water;
Blow, boys, blow!
Three cheers for the cook and one for his daughter.
Blow my bully boys blow!
Marine plant life is an important component of this ecosystem. Guess who thrives on clean water and clean air? All of us. Another reminder to respect our environment.
A Yankee ship on the Congo River,
Blow, boys, blow!
Her masts they bend and her sails they shiver.
Blow my bully boys blow!
Let Me Count the Days: Homeschooling is learning through living.
Filed under: Field Trips, Science | Tagged: educating kids on the water, education, field trips, history, homeschool, homeschooling, marine biology and kids, sailing with kids, sailor songs, Schooner |
Homeschool Happymess: A Naturally Inspiring Approach to Education 
Blow me down, this is brilliant and beautiful — bravo!
~ Erik Roth (Philip Hood’s uncle)
Erik,
Thanks for appreciating the nautical side of life with me, may the wind be forever in your sails.
Allia
How wonderful – I wish I knew how to do what you do – what a gift! Your children are so blessed to have you! I want to be on that schooner with them!!!! Best, Janet
Janet,
Thank you for your continued patience with all children. You are an inspiration to me.
Allia
Nice! Would you happen to know of any home school curricula for marine biology for middle school age?
I do am not familiar with a marine biology curriculum although several of our local museums do run day programs such as this one on the schooner. Our 7th and 8th graders are using PLATO online science programs. You can buy these through the homeschool coop. They are really excellent. There are 3 subjects: biology, earth and space and physics. The students progress through the programs at their own pace. Review and testing is included. I really recommend PLATO, although we skip all the offline printed worksheets as they are not really comprehensible without a textbook. I hope this helps. Let me know if you discover something interesting.
Allia