All Aboard the Titanic!
Welcome
This WebQuest is designed to give students not only a brief lesson in facts about
the short-lived ship, but also help them to discover just how much social class and
money affected the people aboard the RMS Titanic. Students will watch a video
and conduct research about each social class and share their experiences from
aboard the Titanic, much like passengers did if they made it home safely from the
tragic site.
Grade Level: Fifth Grade
Subject: History, English
I hope that my students will have fun learning about the Titanic and learn
how much money played a role in the survival on this beautiful ship. Let’s
get started!
Introduction
Above is an actual photograph of the RMS Titanic, which set sail on April
10, 1912. On her fifth day in the Atlantic Ocean, Titanic hit an iceberg at a little
after midnight. It took the ship less than three hours to split into two and plummet
to the bottom of the ocean where it still remains today.
There are many theories about what actually happened on that night but one
thing is for sure. Over 1,500 people died due to the sinking. But how many deaths
resulted from being in a lower social class? Your job is to find out! Do some
research and get a general idea on the history of the Titanic. After that, get your
minds ready to find out just how much money had to do with the people who
perished on Titanic.
Here are some useful links to the RMS Titanic History.
http://www.titanicfactsandhistory.com/titanic-facts-for-kids
http://www.eszlinger.com/titanic/titanfacts.html
Words to Look Up!
In fifth grade, we are always practicing our vocabulary! Take a few minutes to
look up some of the words in the above paragraph.
Plummet
Theories
Perished
Your Task
Above: The gymnasium inside the Titanic. Most likely, this room was used for first class
passengers only.
For this assignment, you will work on your own. You will draw a name of a
real life passenger on Titanic and become them for one week. On your ticket, you
will find out which social class you belong to: first or third. After this, you will
watch a video and do research on your particular social class. You will find out
what benefits and restrictions your social class had aboard Titanic, and write a
journal entry describing the conditions and your treatment on the ship. After you
get the feel of the experience your passenger had, you will predict whether or not
your passenger lived or died. Remember to think about what you learned about
social class on the Titanic when you are making your prediction. Don’t just assume
your passenger made it to a lifeboat on time! Do the research!
Words to Look Up!
Particular
Benefits
Restrictions
Prediction
Remember, class! You have one week to complete this assignment. You
may take your time doing the research, but do not wait until the last minute to
complete the assignment! In class, on Friday, you will read your journal entry
to the class and find out your passengers true fate.
Steps for This Project
Step One: On Friday, the class will draw names of real passengers on the Titanic, along with
their social class.
Step Two: Begin research on Titanic regarding social class to help you with your assignment.
Below, are some useful links to find some information. Please ask about anything you do not
understand. You will have approximately 45 minutes on Monday and Tuesday to do research.
Video Link
http://www.the-titanic.com/Media-Gallery/Videos/Titanic-Millionaires.aspx
Social Class Links
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worldhistory/titanic_passengers.htm
http://www.the-titanic.com/Passengers/Classes.aspx
http://www.pbs.org/peoplelikeus/resources/guide3.html (Scroll to Class and History, Letter B).
Step Three: After your research, you now have an idea on how first and third class passengers lived
on Titanic. Now, use your creativity skills to create your own journal entry on your life aboard
Titanic. NOTE: Your journal entry should take place before the sinking, not during. You should talk
about how nice or clean the ship was, what your rooms looked like, how the food was, how the
workers on the ship treated you, etc. Your journal entry can be a positive or a negative experience on
the ship. Below are some additional links to guide you with your writing. Remember, you may use
the links above as well. This entry must be at least a page in length. Use your imagination!
http://www.nmni.com/titanic/On-Board/Eating.aspx
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-second-and-thirdclass-passengers-dined-on-the.html
Step Four: After you have noted what your life was like on the Titanic, make a prediction on
whether or not you made it to America safely or if you perished on April 15, 1912. Remember that
not all passengers survived. Base your opinion off what you have learned about social class. NOTE:
You will not be graded down if you are wrong but do try to make your prediction correct. Write your
prediction at the bottom of your journal entry. (You must tell why you think you lived or died!)
Step Five: After your project is completed on Friday, you will read your journal entry to the
class, and learn the actual fate of your passenger. Some of you may be very surprised! After the
entries are read, we will discuss how major of a role money and social class played on Titanic.
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated on their understanding of social class. This should be apparent in their
journal. They will also be graded on their in class presentation. Below, is a rubric for the
standards I am looking for.
Incorrect
Average
Good Work
Excellent
Total Score
Spelling and
Grammar of
Journal
More than 8
Mistakes (5
Points)
5-7 Mistakes
(10 Points)
3-4 Mistakes
(15 Points)
2 or less
Mistakes (20
Points)
20 Points
Understanding
of Social Class
Does not
understand
social class (5
Points)
Understands
social class but
does not apply
it on paper (10
Points)
Understands
social class but
not completely
(15 Points)
20 Points
Proper
Presentation
Refuses to
Give
Presentation
(0 Points)
Gives partial
presentation,
and does not
finish (3 Points)
Gives full
presentation but
is too quiet and
does not make
eye contact (7
Points)
Prediction
Does not have
one (0 Points)
Has one but no
reason why (2
Points)
Neatness
Hand writing
cannot be read
(0 Points).
Handwriting is
sloppy and goes
over margins (2
Points).
Has a
prediction but
the reasoning is
wrong (4
Points)
Writing is neat
but some words
cannot be read
(3 Points).
Completely
understands
social class and
applies it to
journal entry
(20 Points)
Gives
presentation
with good eye
contact, good
voice, and takes
presentation
seriously (10
Points)
Has prediction
and reasoning is
accurate (5
Points)
Writing is neat,
inside margins
and easily read
(5 Points)
5 Points
Length
1-2 Sentences
(2 Points)
Half a page (4
Points)
Full page (10
Points)
10 Points
Three fourths
of a page (7
Points)
Total Score: 70 Points
10 Points
5 Points
Conclusion
Now that we have completed this project, I hope that my students feel like they have gained
some knowledge about the Titanic, and understand how social class was the greatest aspect of
whether you lived or died on the Titanic. In addition, I hope this assignment gave you some
journal writing experience, and helped your imagination soar. I will ask that you give me some
feedback on this assignment in class on Friday. Please have fun with this and share with me what
you have learned. If you have questions about this assignment or about the RMS Titanic, ASK
ME! I am always available to answer any questions you may have.
If you are interested in videos and articles about the Titanic, here are some additional links to
give you more information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRqgnSX5rOk
http://www.the-titanic.com/Facts/Ship-Facts.aspx
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Titanic-Facts-A1515
Review




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I will be asking these questions on Friday, in class. Please review them before hand.
How were the different social classes treated on the Titanic?
Which classes were most likely to survive the sinking?
What luxuries could money buy on the Titanic?
What have you learned about journal writing?
What is the lesson you took away from this project?
Words to Look Up!
Luxuries
Aspect
Submersed
Below: A photograph of the Bow of the Titanic, submersed in water.