Lesson plan
Beakhead
A beakhead or beak is the protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship. Beakheads were fitted on sailing vessels from the 16th to the 18th century and served as working platforms for sailors working the sails of the bowsprit, the forward-pointing mast that carries the spritsails. The beakhead would be one of the most ornate sections of a ship, particularly in the extravagant Baroque-style ships of the 17th century. The sides were often decorated with carved statues and located directly underneath was the figurehead, usually in the form of animals, shields or mythological creatures. The beakhead also housed the crew's toilets (head), which would drop refuse straight into the sea without sullying the ship's hull unnecessarily. and beakhead of the 17th century warship seen from above. The small square holes on either side of the bowsprit are the toilets.
Article summary
A beakhead or beak is the protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship. Beakheads were fitted on sailing vessels from the 16th to the 18th century and served as working platforms for sailors working the sails of the bowsprit, the forward-pointing mast that carries the spritsails. The beakhead would be one of the most ornate sections of a ship, particularly in the extravagant Baroque-style ships of the 17th century. The sides were often decorated with carved statues and located directly underneath was the figurehead, usually in the form of animals, shields or mythological creatures. The beakhead also housed the crew's toilets (head), which would drop refuse straight into the sea without sullying the ship's hull unnecessarily. and beakhead of the 17th century warship seen from above. The small square holes on either side of the bowsprit are the toilets.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.