Pirate Treasure Letter

Need ideas for a treasure letter to go with our Pirate Treasure lesson plan? Read on!

For those of you who need help with a letter for our Buried Treasure, here you go! I used this letter when we found "buried" treasure in sand. We read the letter first, then sifted the sand for our treasure. I used 4 different types of beads as treasure.

Hint: if you do this in a plastic container indoors, spread an old blanket on the ground, then place the container on top of the blanket. Simply shake blanket outside to remove sand, and your floors stay clean!

Dear Pirate class,

I have heard you are becoming experts on pirates. Maybe you can help?

I was digging a garden in my backyard last week when my shovel hit something hard. It turned out to be a very old, small chest. My friends and I dug it up. It was very heavy, but we managed to lift it out of the ground. Of course, it was locked. I took a hammer and hit the lock as hard as I could. The chest was so old that as soon as I hit it, it fell apart.

Many beautiful jewels of different colors, shapes, and sizes fell all over the ground. There was also a letter. This is what it said:

This be the chest of Cap'n Etarip. I be a pirate of the Caribbean in the year 1732. The country of me birth is England. Me father was a right ol' sea dog, as honest and good a man that ever was. I could sail from the time I was a right sprog of 5. Me Pap died when I was only 10. I took to the seas then. Me first job was cabin boy on "Merchant Queen". Ahhh, she was a sight; the finest ship in all of England. She sailed from the shores of that country, carrying supplies to traders, and always bringin' back many a good thing-spices, precious woods, an' gold.

Two years on the sea made a man o' me. In 1709, when I be 12, the "Merchant Queen" was set upon by the dread Pirate Greenbeard. He be sparin' me life since I was still a lad. But only so long as I joined his crew.

That is how I came to be on account, as we say. The life of a pirate is bonny - exciting, adventurous, and wealthy.

When I be 25, Greenbeard gave me command of one of his fleet, "Red Daw"n. We anchor at Tortuga of course. Tortuga be full o' pirates. Some of em' the meanest, sorriest lot ye ever be settin' eyes on.

Two years past, Greenbeard and his ship, Gold Digger, be set upon by the scurvy Spanish navy. Gold Digger was taken, Greenbeard and his lads sent to Davy Jones's locker. "Red Dawn" be all min' now. Me crew stay loyal to me.

I be a good pirate...successful-like that is. But, me days be numbered. I am afeared tha' other scalliwags be chasin' me treasure. I be puttin' me most precious, valuable booty in this chest and leavin' it buried in the shores of this place.

Please God I be back for it soon.

It goes on to catalogue the treasure and give its worth. I have calculated how much each jewel should be worth in present day money. However, I haven't had time to count it all. I have hidden the jewels in this box of sand, so that no one will know what it contains, and try to steal it.

So, I send this to you, Pirate class. Please search and find all the jewels, and calculate how much the treasure is worth in today's money. We may never know who Capn' Etarip was, or how he met his fate. God have mercy on his soul.

Your friend,

Professor Bo O. Ty

If you want to have your kids add up the worth of the "tresure", simply assign each type and amount. For example, I said every bead/jewel shaped like a starburst would be worth $100 on the market today.

Have fun!