Lesson Plan - A New View

Watch the Video
Build background knowledge by watching the video “Searching for the Titanic.” Discuss: Why did it take decades for explorers to locate the wreckage of the Titanic?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• expeditions
• voyage
• deteriorate
• accused

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why people are still so interested in the Titanic.

1. What do you think Titanic expert Ross Mumford means when he calls the Titanic a “real-life puzzle that people of all ages are still trying to solve”?
When researcher Ross Mumford calls the Titanic a “real-life puzzle that people of all ages are still trying to solve,” he means that there are still unanswered questions about the disaster. To answer those questions, people have been bringing objects up from the Titanic and studying the wreckage.
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2. Why was the Magellan team in a hurry to take photos and videos of the Titanic wreckage?
The Magellan team was in a hurry to take photos and videos of the Titanic wreckage because the wreckage is falling apart. The article explains that “some experts say what’s left of the Titanic could deteriorate within the next few decades.”
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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar “Pieces of the Past”?
The purpose of the sidebar “Pieces of the Past” is to give examples of objects that have been brought up from the wreckage, like boots and a fancy cup, and to discuss the debate about whether it is wrong to bring objects like these up from the ship.
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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “Inside the Titanic” to explore the layout of the ship as it looked in 1912.
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