Goals:

The students will gain an understanding of the events which surrounded the Titanic's fatal voyage.

The students will also improve their cooperative skills.

Students will improve their Compuer/Internet related skills

Materials:

• loose-leaf paper
• pen
• one Titanic mystery (on a sheet of paper) for each group
• access to the Titanic Index (Internet access )

Time:

This lesson will take one hour (Depending upon your computer access)

Procedures:

1. The students will divide into groups of 4.

2. One person from each group will be designated as the scribe.

3. Pass out a mystery to each group.

Example: What would have happened if the Titanic had hit the iceberg head on?

NOTE: Please feel free to make up your own questions and (PLEASE) share them by using the form provided on my Web site. I will post the mystery/question for all to utilize.

4. The students will read the mystery.

5. The students will be given one period to discuss and solve their mystery by using logic and imagination. They may also be allowed to use the Titanic Index to research their mystery (What really happened).

6. A student from each group will be selected to be the speaker.

7. The speaker will explain their group's mystery and their group's solution.

8. The rest of the class will offer solutions to their peers' mysteries in a class discussion.

Assessment:

The students must successfully work in a group.

Criteria for success: The students will fill out peer evaluation forms.

The students must have a real-life solution to their mystery.

Criteria for success: If the students come up with a solution, they have achieved their goal. .

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

Language Arts - exercise group and communication skills

History - use the facts learned about the Titanic to solve the mystery

Mathematics- use problem solving techniques

Technology - utilizing a Web site for research - possible software presentation applications.

Possible Extensions:

Have the students read a mystery novel.

Have the students write their own mystery story.

Have students create a group presentation/representation of their mystery using Power Point or some other presentation software.