Lesson Plan for The Titanic - Elementary

2020-10-01

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This lesson plan illustrates ways in which our Elementary level graded reader about the Titanic can be used with students.

We hope that teachers using Read Listen Learn will find it useful.

You can read the article here and there is also a video of it on our YouTube channel.

 

Aims

The aim of this lesson is to offer reading practise to learners at a fairly elementary level on a topic which, because of the famous film, they are likely to be familiar.

It should also offer them the opportunity to ask and write questions, as well as answer them verbally and in writing. It, therefore, offers an integrated skills approach to learning the language.

Class profile

Suitable for just about any age of student.

Although familiarity with the classic film would be useful and, as it is now 20 years old, we must expect that some students will not know it.

Basic understanding of English required.

Topic/teaching-learning area

Integrated skills.

Lesson fit

Students could be asked to research individually on one of these topics.

1. The history of passenger ships.
2. The reasons for so many Europeans travelling to the USA.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, students will be able to:

1. Rehearse question forms while speaking
2. Discuss with other group members plausible questions which other groups might not get right.

Anticipated Challenges and possible solutions

1. Learners already familiar with James Cameron’s film will have an advantage when tackling the text and, maybe, do it more quickly than others. HW on the Titanic before the lesson should iron out any major differences though.
2. Students will not be familiar with the ‘Information Not Given’ option and will therefore only compose True and False questions. Examples before the exercise might help.
3. Students fail to come up with enough questions. Use Teacher's questions instead.

Activity 1

Teacher elicits what students know about the Titanic and notes down any pertinent information for display, or gets Students to do so.

• Student / teacher Interaction: teacher to student
• Materials: whiteboard and markers or electonic equivalent
• Timing: 10 minutes

Activity 2

Teacher arranges the students in groups of 2 – 4 and encourages stronger ones to support weaker members in reading the text, which all the students should be able to see. They are asked to take notes.

• Student / teacher Interaction: student to student
• Materials: projector and screen, white board or electonic equivalent, pen, paper or electonic equivalent
• Timing: 10 minutes

Activity 3

Teacher tells students to write statements about the tragedy in groups. Some should be true (according to the text), some false and some should rely on information that the author did not include. There should be 5 to 8 statements.

• Student / teacher Interaction: student to student
• Materials: pen, paper or electonic equivalent
• Timing: 15 to 20 minutes

Activity 4

Students test each other on the text and teacher notes scores in order to ascertain the winning team. (Spoken or written)

• Student / teacher Interaction: student to student
• Materials: pen, paper or electonic equivalent
• Timing: 10 minutes

Activity 5

Scores are tallied and the winning group declared.

• Student / teacher Interaction: teacher and student
• Materials: pen, paper or electonic equivalent
• Timing: 5 minutes

Teacher's questions

If students do not come up with questions, here are some to substitute.

Remember the possible answers are True, False and INI (Information Not Included).

1. Many young people know about the Titanic because of the famous film.
2. Most of the passengers on the Titanic were young.
3. Only the rich could afford tickets to the US on the Titanic.
4. The Titanic took on passengers in three different countries.
5. The Titanic sank on the first night of its voyage.
6. The captain telephoned the ship builder in England to find out how long the Titanic could last before it sank.
7. Most 3rd class passengers died because 1st and 2nd class passengers women and children got off first.
8. More people died on the Titanic than in any other shipping accident.