Today is the anniversary of the Titanic striking an iceberg in the frigid North Atlantic Ocean. My students and I have been hashing out the subtle nuance of fact vs. opinion in a nonfiction article, and today the group quiz happens in class. April break starts Friday, and I will not have time to complete the unit beforehand, so here's what will happen now that my bulletin board is updated.
1. We will be making small card-stock images of ourselves, characterizations that will meet their fates aboard the Titanic when break ends.
2. April break will serve as our unwitting cruise time. This is the semi-recreation of April 10 through 11:39 p.m. April 14, 1912. Everybody is going on holiday, and it's a party atmosphere, right?
3. Postcards -- Sure, the kiddos all know how this ends, but they don't know how it ends for them individually. We will be writing out and decorating facsimiles of an original Titanic postcard, and we all pretend we are having a marvelous time.
4. Videos will be shown with simulations of the sinking, and we will watch two eerie short films: Captain Smith's final inspection ten minutes prior to setting sail; an interview with the elderly Eva Hart, who, at seven years old, survived the sinking of the Titanic and recalls the event with startling detail and accuracy.
5. Fickle Finger of Fate Time -- The students' mini-versions will play a game that ends with each and every one meeting his or her fate. Some will be saved, that's true; most will not.
Yup, a wonderful time will be had by all . . . or some . . . or a small few. Either way, the Titanic bulletin board is up. GAME ON.
