Bring Location to Life with a Pirate-Themed Investigation

Set sail on a mathematical adventure! This open-ended investigation has been designed to deepen Year 2 students’ understanding of location in a fun and engaging way. Students take on the role of a famous pirate in the 1700s, tasked with using a map and directions to uncover the legendary Blackbeard’s Bounty. By creating their own treasure maps, writing step-by-step directions, and testing a classmate’s instructions, students practise vital location and direction skills while enjoying a story-driven task that sparks their imagination.

This resource also includes teacher notes, a student investigation guide, a brainstorming worksheet, grid paper, a themed scroll for directions, and reflection questions — everything you need to run a seamless investigation.

How to Use This Resource in Your Classroom

This investigation works perfectly as part of your maths lessons on location and mapping. Begin by setting the pirate scene to capture your students’ imaginations, then guide them through designing a map of the island and marking the treasure’s location. Students write a numbered list of directions leading to the treasure, swap with a classmate, and test whether the directions are accurate.

The resource has been designed to allow for both collaboration and independent thinking. It can easily be adapted for group work, partner tasks, or individual practice depending on your classroom needs.

Download and Start Exploring Today!

Click the Download button above to access this easy-to-use PDF. We recommend printing one copy first, reviewing the included pages, and then deciding which to print for your students.

To save paper, you may choose to print selected pages only, or project the investigation on your board and have students replicate the worksheets in their notebooks.

More Mapping Fun

Don’t worry, we have more great fun just waiting for you to explore!

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