March Reading Has Island Students 'Walking the Plank'
By Karen Gould

Mackinac Island students Keely Johnson (center) and Kyle Shunk help teacher Vicki Urman construct a pirate ship. This year, Island students will work to improve reading skills in March with pirate-themed learning activities.

Walking the plank and climbing the crow's nest are part of the March reading month activities planned for Mackinac Island students in kindergarten through seventh grade.

The event draws excitement from students the first day, said Vicki Urman, kindergarten and first grade instructor. Last year's theme was medieval times.

"This year, we really want to hit expressive reading, fluency, and vocabulary," she said.

A hallway bulletin board has been covered with a paper pirate ship, complete with a plank and two ladders leading to a crow's nest. Each student will receive a pirate name and will make a paper pirate figure to represent them on the ship.

A daily reading goal will be set by grade level, said Mrs. Urman, and at the end of the week, students who do not meet the goal will lead their paper pirate from the plank and into the water, where they will spend the next week. Those who walk the plank will lose a recess, while those who meet their reading goal will advance up the ladder to the crow's nest. Pirate booty of rings and trinkets will be awarded to students reaching the crow's nest.

Each week, the young pirates will be given grade-appropriate vocabulary words to learn, and those who are successful will receive a key that unlocks a pirate chest, where they can claim a treasure.

"Every class will have different words and different levels of expectations," she said.

Other activities include playing a life-size battleship game where students become the game pieces, vocabulary bingo, map making, pirate performances, and foam sword fights. Students will dress like pirates and classroom doors will be decorated.

Lessons include required reading, vocabulary words, reading poems, learning about navigation, and discussing land formations.

The activity will end March 27, when students will bring their sleeping bags to school for the annual sleepover. Parents are invited to attend the Treasure Islandthemed night, and activities are planned through the evening.