Titanic storytelling
Any early years or key stage one class studying English and or history would engage with this highly interactive education session about a little boy and his favourite toy. The children learn about the Titanic by taking part in the storytelling and playing different parts from the story.
This workshop is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10.15am and 11.30am.
Workshop details
The workshop begins with a warm welcome to the museum and a discussion to find out what the children may, or may not already know about the famous ship and its local Liverpool connections. The focus then moves on to explore what life was like one hundred years ago, looking at travel and toys in particular.
After this, the children are then invited to take part in the story of Polar the Titanic Bear. The story is adapted from the original written by a Titanic first class passenger, Daisy Corning Stone Spedden, who survived the fateful voyage, along with her family. She then went on to write Polar the Titanic Bear as a Christmas present for her son Douglas.
The children learn about the Titanic by taking part in the storytelling and playing different characters including Douglas, Daisy and a sailor. The children are shown what actions and words they need to perform. All of the children have the opportunity to join in with the story at certain points to reinforce their learning. Through the story they will learn about different aspects of life on board the famous ship, as well as life in the Edwardian era, and the family's subsequent rescue in a lifeboat.
This workshop can be booked in conjunction with a self led visit to the Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story exhibition. An activity pack of worksheets and other resources for classroom activities to accompany your visit can be downloaded from the Maritime Museum schools and groups page.
Practical information for your visit
Visiting the Maritime Museum - information for groups (pdf)
Image © Dave Jones
Curriculum links
Early Years Foundation Stage
- Communication and language
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Literacy
- Understanding the world
Key Stage 1 – History
- Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time.
- They should use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms.
- They should ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events.
- Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.
English Spoken Language
- Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
- Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge.
- Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments.
- Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Pupils will:
- Understand the difference in transport between 100 years ago and today.
- Recognise that people’s clothes and toys were different between then and now.
- Understand that this is a true story, and the people and events depicted where real and not imaginary.
Skills
Pupils will:
- Join in the story at appropriate times using repeated phrases and actions which improves confidence in participating in a group activity.
- Learn new words important in the story.
Concepts
Pupils will:
- Grasp the key importance of recognising things that happened in the past.
- Appreciate the importance of the Titanic disaster as part of world history.
Attitudes
Pupils will:
- Empathise with the characters situation.
- View the Maritime Museum as an enjoyable and interesting place to visit.