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The Story of the Titanic

A complete B1 classroom lesson with the EnglishDrills nine-colour lesson sequence.

B150–60 minutesHistory & travelPrintable

Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.

Teacher Answers

1 Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

understand the main ideas and key details in The Story of the Titanic.
learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
use the lesson language in speaking or writing.

Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.

2 Reading

Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas.

The Titanic was a large passenger ship that began its first voyage in April 1912. It left England and was travelling across the Atlantic towards New York. Late on 14 April, the ship struck an iceberg. The collision damaged the hull and seawater entered several compartments. Passengers and crew were told to move towards the lifeboats, but there were not enough places for everyone. The ship sank early the next morning. The disaster led to major changes in maritime safety rules, including requirements for enough lifeboat spaces and improved radio monitoring.

3 Vocabulary

Words: voyage · iceberg · hull · lifeboat · maritime

Write a short meaning or example for each word.

voyage –

iceberg –

hull –

lifeboat –

maritime –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What is the main topic of the reading?

2. Write one important detail from the reading.

3. What happens or is explained next?

4. Which detail did you find most interesting?

5. What can we learn from this topic?

5 Language Focus

Choose the correct past simple or past continuous form.

1. The ship (travel) towards New York when it (strike) an iceberg.

2. Passengers (sleep) when the collision (happen).

3. Crew members (help) people while water (enter) the ship.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. Where was the Titanic travelling?

2. What did it hit?

3. Why was evacuation difficult?

4. What changed after the disaster?

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• What was new or surprising?
• How does this topic connect with real life?
• What question would you like to ask about it?

The Story of the Titanic — Continued

7 Use Your English

Something New

In groups, prepare a 30-second radio news report from the morning after the sinking. Include what happened, where and one safety concern.

Write

Write 100–120 words explaining what happened to the Titanic and one lesson learned from the disaster.

8 Puzzle or Game

Memory Challenge

Close or cover the Vocabulary panel. In 45 seconds, write as many lesson words as you can remember. Then check your spelling.

Score: ____ words remembered correctly.

Use your best word in a sentence.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
I can use at least three new words correctly.
I can complete the language task.
I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do

Final challenge: The Story of the Titanic

Plan: Note your strongest idea, 3 useful words or phrases, and one supporting detail from the lesson.

Respond: Write a short paragraph of 6–8 sentences, or prepare a 45-second spoken response, showing what you learned.

Reflect: Underline the part of your response that best shows your progress.