The Titanic
A WebQuest
Introduction
The sinking of the Titanic is known as one of the worst disasters in the twentieth century. Built over the course of two years by the White Star Line, the Titanic set sail from England in 1912. It was the largest luxury liner every built and was considered “unsinkable” due to its modern construction and system of water tight compartments in the hull. However, when it hit an iceberg on the night of April 14, the ship sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean within two and a half hours. Only 705 people survived out of the 2,228 passengers and crew originally aboard the Titanic.
Task
You are a director for National Geographic, and you are making a television show about the ship. Before making the show, you need to do a little research.
1. EQ: What did the Titanic look like?
You will look at actual black and white photographs of the ship taken as it was being built. Remember, the Titanic was the largest luxury ship of its time in 1912. There were cabins for first class, second class, and third class (or steerage) passengers to sleep in as well as eating and socializing areas.
2. EQ: What exactly happened to the Titanic?
You have already read the description of the event in your Interactive Reader. By the way, the author Robert D. Ballard is the oceanographer / underwater archaeologist who first discovered the wreckage of the lost vessel in 1985 and recovered many of the artifacts.
Next you will read a timeline that outlines the events of that fateful night.
3. EQ: What was it like to be a passenger on the Titanic?
Next you will read a first hand account from a Titanic survivor. Notice how the survivor describes the ship and the people aboard. Find out how she was able to survive when so many people died. Think about the emotions she must have been experiencing at the time as well as how the whole experience must have affected her afterwards.
Process
1. Go to the following link and look at pictures of the Titanic. Take no more than 10 minutes.
For pictures of the ship, click here: Titanic Pictures
2. Read the following timeline that tells about the events of the night the Titanic went down.
Click here to read the timeline: Titanic Timeline
3. Read the following first-hand account of the sinking of the Titanic using the link below:
First Class passenger – Elizabeth Shutes, governess
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/titanic.htm
Evaluation
Turn in your recording sheet as a daily grade. Your grade will be based on:
1. ability to identify important details while reading nonfiction
2. ability to ask interesting questions that encourage high level thinking
3. ability to summarize important details
Tomorrow in class you will write a journal from the point of view of a Titanic passenger. You will put together everything you have learned about the ship and its passengers; the assignment will count as a daily grade.
Conclusion and Other Resources
Hopefully, you have become familiar with some of the historical facts surrounding the Titanic disaster and have come to understand the traumatic nature of this event on the people involved. For more information about the Titanic, see the following links below. You can also visit your school or public library to access books about the sinking and the recovery of artifacts.
General History of the Titanic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic
1912 newspaper article from Belfast, Ireland
http://www.irelandseye.com/titanic/2.htm
History, Recovery, Research
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/
The Titanic Inquiry Project – transcripts of the American and British investigations and testimonies of survivors
http://www.titanicinquiry.org/