Quarter 2 - Perspective:
Understanding the Identities of Others
This is a sample unit plan based on student interest in the history and the people of the Titanic. Students explore these questions collaboratively throughout the different components of the day.
Reading
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Non-fiction texts about the history and creation of the Titanic
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Non-fiction texts exploring the identities of the people on-board
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Journal entries from passengers aboard the Titanic
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Non-fiction texts about icebergs
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Historical Fiction: I Survived The Titanic
Math
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Liquid measurement
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Mass/volume
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Multiplication and division application: people to lifeboats
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Multiplication and division application: Number of people compared to the number of rooms on different levels
Science
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What makes things sink and float?
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What caused the Titanic to sink?
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What could have prevented the Titanic from sinking?
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What was the engineering process used to design the Titanic?
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How are ships built differently now?
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An exploration of icebergs and states of matter
History
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What was happening during this time in history?
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Where were people going? Vacation? Immigration? Why?
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Who designed the Titanic?
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What were ships like before the Titanic?
Equity and Critical Literacy
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Who got to board the Titanic? Who didn’t?
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Who slept where? Why?
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Who got on lifeboats? Who didn’t? What about the workers?
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Whose perspectives did we read mostly about? Who is left out?
Community Resources
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USS Constitution Museum
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TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition Boston
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Charlestown Navy Yard
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Harborwalk Boston
Writing
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Perspective Writing: Letter writing from the perspective of people preparing to depart
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Narrative Story Writing
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Informative Essays: Documenting what was learned
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Argumentative Writing: What should have been done differently on board?
Art/Music
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What style of art and music was present on the Titanic
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What art has been recovered?
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What style of art was considered elite enough to be displayed on the ship?
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What was the role of music during times of tragedy?
Final Project/Action
TBD based on student input