Fishing for Education: Titanic Reading Unit

Do you study or discuss Titanic in your classroom? Do you work on informational text or books written to inform the readers? Looking for tons of activities already planned out for you? Looking to incorporate Reading & Social Studies?

Well, I'm happy to this Titanic Reading Unit with you! I've spent the past two weeks slowly creating this reading unit and compiling all the activities I've done in the past (plus some new ones) into a packet.

I have done this unit for the past 3 years when I taught 3rd grade. In Florida we had to prepare our 3rd graders for FCAT (standardized testing), at the time, and when we were done we still had just over 2 months left of school. Our team always enjoyed doing this unit after that to let the students truly enjoy something.

We allowed more time than normal for research and projects. Our students always enjoyed this unit in the past! We even got to incorporate a field trip to the Titanic Artifact Exhibition that does a tremendous job with the students! (I've been on this field trip 3 times and I swear I learn something new each time!)

Packet Includes:

Common Core alignment for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades
Handouts and Games for Reading Skills: Cause & Effect, Compare & Contrast, Main Idea & Supporting Details, Figurative Language, Vocabulary Development, Sequence of Events, and more!
Titanic Diorama Project - Handout and examples
Passenger Profiles - research real passengers
Reading Unit Test
Close Reading handouts
Answer Keys for everything
Writing essays
Book suggestions
Extra activities
Pacing Guide & more!

Please keep in mind this packet is aligned with the book The Titanic: Lost... and Found by Judy Donnelly, book is NOT included. I bought my personal copy through Nook and share it on our projector using my iPad.

What did the students enjoy?

The students truly enjoyed their Diorama Projects and LOVED sharing them with the class! In the packet I mention this was intended as an "At Home" project, but we decided to bring in the supplies we wanted and were able to work on the projects whenever they finish their work early. I gave time to work on just the project as well. Most of my students did it in class and at home. It's amazing to see what they come up with.

The students also enjoyed videos I would show of the real Titanic that researchers have taken over the years. We also found interesting facts that the students thought were unbelievable. AND, of course, our field trip! They felt like they were actually on the Titanic. They were given passenger ticket cards at the beginning of the tour, then had to find out if their passenger survived or not in the disaster.

What did I enjoy as a teacher?

I love, love, love this unit because it is quite rewarding to see the students excitedly engaged to learn more about this event in history! I liked that I could incorporate Reading & Social Studies and allow time to expand their thinking. It amazed me to see my 8-9 year olds handle this topic so well, a lot more understanding and mature than you would think. I also enjoyed the variety of activities we created.