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Pirate Potpourri Index
Pirate Puzzlers Questions: 1) What does it cost a pirate to get his ears pierced? Answers: 1) A buck an ear (buccaneer)
What does "Buccaneer Brian" look like?
Pirate's Chest of Gold Okay, folks this one takes a little while in the telling. So, pour everyone another round, sit back and relax, and listen closely ...
There being five pirates, they all placed their bedrolls in a circle, with the treasure chest in the center, next to the fire. This way, they reasoned, none could sneak into the treasure while the others slept. Of course, each one also reasoned in his heart that he alone was stealthy enough to do just such a thing! At midnight, one pirate arose, opened the chest, and counted out the gold pieces into five even piles. When he finished, there was exactly one odd piece remaining. Wishing to avoid arguments, he threw that piece as far as he could into the sea. Then, he thought, he might as well keep a share to himself and still take a share in the morning. So he carefully hid one of the five piles in the sand, and place the other four back into the chest. Then he went back to sleep. At one o'clock, another pirate arose, and he also counted out the remaining pieces of gold into five equal piles. He, likewise, found one extra gold piece and got rid of it into the ocean. Then, greed got the better of him, and he too hid one of the piles he had made, and only put four of them back into the chest. Well, you guessed it. At two o'clock, three o'clock, and four o'clock, each of the remaining pirates in turn sneaked a look into the chest. Each pirate, being unaware anyone else had beaten him to it, divided the gold he found in the chest into five equal piles, and each one found exactly one extra gold piece from going evenly by five. Each pirate disposed of the odd piece, and each one in turn kept one-fifth of the gold he'd counted for himself, and only put the other part back into the chest.
The question is this: what is the smallest number of gold pieces that could have been in the chest to begin with, for the above events to have taken place? Or, on the other end, how much gold did each pirate receive in the morning? Let each gold piece be the same size and value as all of the others, and for simplicity's sake, we won't allow splitting of any pieces into two. Source: http://www.indwes.edu/Faculty/bcupp/riddles/riddles.htm#pirate Solution: (Puzzle #26) http://www.rinkworks.com/brainfood/math.shtml
Internet Web Resources Are you interested in having your crew "make a compass", "treasure map", or "pirate flag"? Might you wish to explore "pirate vocabulary" prior to sending off a collaborative e-mail message to a captain of a nearby island? Do you think some of your crew might be interested in a "vocabulary hunt" or "pirate word search"? If any of these ideas capture your imagination, you will find the class handouts and lesson plans at the following site to a be a real treasure:
Crew members must not only "walk-the-walk", they need to learn how to "talk-the-talk" as well. Landlubbers and those lacking their "sea legs" are encouraged to visit this resource:
Perhaps your crew might be interested in conducting an on-line Internet treasure hunt in which participants must answer 13 "pirate related" questions and decode a secret message. This well-designed, educational web site will have your buccaneers engaged in "rover research" as they learn more about pirates in a very appealing manner. Check out this web site at:
Although these next web sites provide a birthday party plan for "computer-age buccaneers", they may be a resource that educators might find beneficial. Peruse the links to find ideas for a pirate party at the end of this T.H.I.N.K. project. Ideas include invitation designs, fun and game activities and recipes for delicacies such as "Pirate" and "Deserted Island" cakes. Check out the pirate party ideas from:
Those who want to learn more about possible pirate treasure, should visit Nova Scotia's Oak Island web site:
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Register | T.H.I.N.K. | Maps | Teams | Teacher Notes |
Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity
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Other crew members drew
treasure maps and dipped them in tea to give them an authentic parchment quality. A
feature wall in their school was used to display all the crew members' handiwork for all
to enjoy.
Once upon a time a small band of pirates followed a treasure map until they
located the correct spot on a small island. Then they dug all day and half the evening,
and behold! they uncovered a treasure chest filled with gold pieces. It was so heavy with
all the gold in it that there was quite a struggle to get it out of the hole and lug it
back to camp. By this time it was already late at night, so by common agreement, the
pirates decided to sleep the night through and divide the spoils in the morning. 
Come dawn, all arose, and after congratulating each other on being so
honest--remember, each pirate thinks he is the only one who has helped himself to an early
share--they all sit down to count the gold. Lo and behold! the pile of gold pieces
remaining in the chest divides evenly five ways. Each pirate receives a share, and the
band splits, each member planning on secretly returning to recover his hidden extra share.
