I Was There…on the Mary Celeste: A Creative Writing Trip to the Past
No one knows to this day what happened to the crew and passengers aboard the Mary Celeste. Together we take a look at the events and the theories before creating a story that tells what learners think may have happened.
Tracy Lambert
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(235)
Rising Star
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursAssessment
Informal assessment during classClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 5
Another leap into our ‘I Was There…’ series of classes as we create stories based on a historic event, time or figure. In 1872, the ‘Mary Celeste’ set sail for a journey from New York to Spain that should have lasted a few weeks. As well as the crew, the Captain’s wife and two-year-old daughter were on board. Less than a month later, the Mary Celeste was found in full sail, drifting in the Atlantic. Not a single person was on board. No one ever found them and to this day, we don’t really know what happened to them. Join us as we set the scene, discovering what historical details we need to understand and take a look at the facts surrounding the strange true events of the Mary Celeste. We’ll then explore some of the theories that have emerged over the years – from the scientific to the bizarre – and see if we can come up with our own theory about what happened. We’ll finish off with writing time when students can plan or jump into writing a story based on the events and following those who vanished. Will their tale tell of sailing through another dimension? Aliens? A kidnapping conspiracy? Time permitting, students will be able to share their outline or their writing but there is no pressure to do so. If they prefer, students can upload their stories to the classroom afterwards, send their work to me privately, or simply keep it to themselves. I can’t wait to see where your story takes everyone.
Learning Goals
Students will:
Look at historic context
Learn about the disappearance of the Mary Celeste
Explore how to evaluate different theories and discuss them
Use the information given to form their own opinion on events
Create a piece of writing based on events, using a realistic or fantastic view effectively.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
All content is age-appropriate. There are references to possible acts of violence but no graphic descriptions or language.
Supply List
A notebook or paper and something to write with, or a device to use for writing.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
A variety of online and published works have been referred to over years of teaching this subject, including but not limited to:
The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi EY Stemple
Academic Kids: Mary Celeste
wwwhistory.com
Mary Celeste by Virginia Loh-Hagan
Joined September, 2020
4.9
235reviews
Rising Star
Teacher expertise and credentials
Writing is my passion and as well as majoring in English at university, along with Theatre Arts, I've almost 20 years of experience in teaching English in primary schools. Over those years, I have worked regularly with groups of children specifically on English writing skills and teaching creative writing online.
I’m also passionate about history and love to explore historic mysteries. I have used creative writing linked to historic events over many years in school and have helped students blend the facts of the past with creativity in writing.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$13
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-11
1-6 learners per class
