Spark your child’s imagination with pirate activities this fall, that will get him excited for Halloween! Try some of these fun activities for kids on Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th) and talk in your best pirate jargon with yer mateys—shiver me timbers it be great fun! As you play, pair these activities with an adventurous storybook such as My Very Own Pirate Tale.
Paper Bag Pirate Puppets
Make a swashbuckling pirate friend with this pirate puppet activity! Kids can also make these with friends during a playdate and put on a pirate puppet show. You’ll need:
- A brown paper bag
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Markers or crayons
- Googly eyes
- Glue
The bottom of your paper bag will be the puppet’s head. Glue googly eyes to the bag. You can also glue just one eye, and color an eye patch on the other side. Draw a mouth and nose for your pirate. You can also color the pirate’s shirt or cut out stripes from construction paper and glue them down to make a shirt. Cut out a hat or bandanna from construction paper and glue it to the top of your pirate’s head. Now you have a pirate friend that will travel alongside you in search of buried treasure!
Walk the Plank Pirate Game
Enjoy the fall weather with a pirate game for kids that makes them walk the plank! You’ll need:
- Blue construction paper
- Blue plastic or a blue sheet
- A long wooden board
- Two boxes or crates
- Glue
- Scissors
- Long craft sticks
Cut out shark fins from the blue construction paper and glue them to the craft sticks. Lay your blue plastic sheet across the yard and stick the shark fins into the ground in different areas of the blue material. These shark-infested waters must be crossed! Place a box on one side of the “water” and the second box on the other side. Place the two ends of the board on the boxes.
Now have kids try to walk the plank safely, or be eaten by the sharks below! Turn it into a pirate birthday party game and give candy to the kids who safely cross.
Cardboard Box Pirate Ship
Every pirate on the high seas needs a sturdy ship. With this activity, you can use a wagon you already own and transform it into your little pirate’s sailing vessel! You’ll need:
- A large cardboard box
- Scissors
- Paint
- Hot glue (parental supervision required)
- Paper towel rolls
- Twine
- Duct tape
Draw the shape of a pirate ship’s side onto the cardboard and cut it out. Repeat this step. Paint the two sides of your ship. You can also paint ship windows and add black lines to make the ship look like it is made out of wood boards. Cut a paper towel roll into halves and paint them black. Then glue them onto the side of your ship, as cannons.
To attach your ship sides to the wagon, glue some twine onto the back and glue a strip of cardboard over the twine to keep in place. Repeat this for the other side of the ship. Then tie the twine to the wooden slats of your wagon. If your wagon doesn’t have these wood slats, you can duct tape the ship sides to the wagon.
Cut a long strip of cardboard, a shorter strip of cardboard, and glue them crisscross to form a mast. Paint your mast black. You can also cut out a ship flag from white paper or cloth and glue it to the top of the mast. Secure the ship mast to the inside of the wagon with twine or use duct tape.
Travel around the neighborhood in your own pirate ship wagon, and re-use it again at Halloween!
Make Your Own Pirate Hat
Turn your child into a brave and bold pirate captain with this pirate hat activity for kids! You’ll need:
- A large sheet of paper or a newspaper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Construction Paper
- Markers
- A long feather
Use a large sheet of paper or a newspaper. With the newspaper, open it up and lay it down in front of you. Fold the paper down horizontally. Take one of the top corners and fold it to the center of the folded page. Repeat this step with the other corner. Take one sheet from the bottom and fold it up. Flip the whole thing over and repeat this step, taking the other sheet from the bottom and folding it up. Now your hat is ready to wear!
Decorate the hat according to your swashbuckling style! Try gluing a large feather on it, or glue a fun shape to the side as your unique pirate symbol.
Resources
https://www.teachstarter.com/blog/talk-like-a-pirate-day-2017-activities-for-kids/
https://allfortheboys.com/talk-like-a-pirate-day-activities/
https://www.catchmyparty.com/photos/718562
