Pirates, privateers and plantations (KS4 GCSE, AQA 9-1 Migration)

Pirates, privateers and explorers are examined and linked to key factors on the course: economic resources, religion and individual role (gold, glory and God). Main activity links the development of piracy to colonisation and the experiences of African groups. Leads to answering exam question on significance, with teacher guidance.

This is a very well differentiated cut and stick activity (you can choose which version suits your class). At a basic level, it helps to embed their chronological understanding of a course with a very long timeline, but higher ability students are challenged to develop their understanding of a complex web of causation by identifying how decisions and motivations on both sides led to colonisation.

AIM: To analyse the motivations of explorers, privateers and pirates; To describe the short and long term impact of the voyages of discovery