Educational Activity

Title: Learning the Ropes!

Since teachers are not expected to have content knowledge of knots, we have included step-by-step instructions of how to tie some of the basic knots that sailors, mariners, climbers, and other knot enthusiasts use. This activity can be incorporated into an art class or an outdoor education class.

Objectives:

During this exercise, students will:

* manipulate line or rope.

* tie knots.

* identify appropriate situations where each knot can be used.

Materials needed:

* At least one short piece of line or rope per student. Each line should be at least 1 cm in diameter. The line should not be made of polypropylene (springy yellow line) as it does not hold most knots very well.

* Print outs of this activity and its diagrams, or a computer projector to display diagrams.

The Bowline

This knot is often called the "rabbit" knot, in which it tells the story of cute bunny going around a tree. Different geographic regions change the rabbit into another species that is more native to that particular area. So, this knot has also been called the gopher knot, the park squirrel knot, the moray eel knot, and now for the very first time, let us introduce the newest version: the Brown Tree Snake Knot!

The bowline is used to make a non-slip loop. This a very handy characteristic compared to most loop knots that get tighter and tighter around the object (or person) they loop around.

Now as every story goes, you need a setting: In our case, the setting is the beautiful island of Guam, in a park with a single solitary tree. Under this tree, is a hole which used to belong to the rabbit; now it belongs to the brown tree snake. Go ahead and make the setting as shown in the photo below.

Remember, that trees have roots, and roots go under the ground, which means that when making the setting, make sure that the tree loops UNDER the hole.

The brown tree snake was having a snooze in the burrow after a delightful meal, when it woke up and sensed that something was rustling outside. It slid out of its hole, slithered around the tree as it looked or what was making the commotion.

Not finding anything around the tree, the brown snake slithered back down to its hole.

What the snake didn't know was that the rustling outside was us, the great Guam brown tree snake catchers. After the snake slithered back into the hole, we grabbed the snake's head in one hand, and the tree as support in the other hand, and pulled! This last action tightens the knot and makes it secure.

Note: Like most factitious stories, this story bends some of the facts, and we'd like to point these out so that you don't get confused. Just like wolves don't really talk or wear grandma outfits (Little Red Riding Hood), brown tree snakes wouldn't live in a burrow (although they would go into one if there was a rabbit, a Koko bird, or a rat inside!). Secondly, there are very few, if any, rabbits in Guam.

The Reef Knot (Square Knot):

The reef knot is used to tie two ropes together of an equal thickness. The reef knot is easy to make, but it is also easy to mistake. You can use the reef knot guru's mantra: "Right over left, and left over right!" Each action is just like the first step in tying your shoe laces. Let's see it in action:

Right over left, and over. (Just like you were tying your shoelaces)

And left over right, and over. Now pull tight and presto! You have a reef knot. Notice that it should look symmetrical. If you made an asymmetrical knot you probably went right over left, right over left, and should try again.

The Sheet Bend

Now what happens if you want to tie ropes of different thickness or type? You should never use a reef knot for this situation, as it will probably slip. Instead use a sheet bend, which is much stronger and secure in this type of situation.

First, take the thicker line and make it bend at its end. Take the thinner line and feed it up through the loop, around the back of the thick line.

Finally tuck the thin line underneath itself and pull!

The Figure Eight

The figure eight is an easy and very effective "stopper knot." A stopper knot is tied at the end of a line and prevents the line from slipping out of a hole or fairlead. For example, you could place a small figure eight at the end of your shoe laces so that they won't come out of their lace holes when you take them off. Let's try making one:

First of all, take the end of line, and loop it over itself in the front.

Then cross the line again, but this time underneath.

Finally, take the end of the line, put it through the top loop, and pull.

Discussion:

You may wish to lead a discussion with your students to examine how knots can be used in their lives, and in other lifestyles and occupations.

* Why are knots important?

* How could you use these knots in your own life?

* What other occupations/lifestyles often rely on knots?

Content Standards

This lesson can address the following content standards:

First Grade

Visual and Performing Arts

1.A.1.3 Explore various media.

Second Grade

Visual and Performing Arts

1.A.2.3 Explore familiar media in new ways.

Fifth Grade

Visual and Performing Arts

1.A.5.3 Intentionally explore and expand use of media.

Return to the Education Main Page for a list of other lesson plans available