Shipwrecks Unit Study
While this unit explores a wide range of maritime disasters, in-depth studies of the Titanic and Edmund Fitzgerald are being developed as separate units.
The unit is suitable for grades K–12, with flexibility to adapt based on your learners’ ages and abilities. Please preview links and activities to ensure they are appropriate for your family. New resources will be added as time allows.
Many of the links below lead to printable resources that can be added to a notebook or lapbook for this study.
Learning Objectives
Many parents and teachers will need to create their own goals. You can compare the goals at these sites to create your own goals depending on how stringent your requirements need to be. All links have several suggested activities for different ages.
Suggested Curriculum Standards:
- World Book Scope Basic Course structure https://www.worldbook.com/free-educational-resources#tcos
- Michigan Department of Education https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards
- Maine as an example of state level requirements https://www.maine.gov/doe/ela/standards/index.html
- California state level requirements https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/
- McREL Compendium National Level https://www2.mcrel.org/compendium/
- Ontario Canada K-8 Expectations https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/curriculum#elementary
- Abeka Scope and Sequence https://www.abeka.com/HomeSchool/ScopeAndSequence.aspx
- The series of books called “What your nth Grader needs to know” May also be helpful nth representing the grade your child is in. This series only Goes to grade 8
Bible References
Look up and compare scriptures at the sites below. In your journal, note how reading different translations and versions can deepen your understanding of each passage.
Bible Tools:
- American Standard Version https://ebible.org/asv/
- King James Bible in Mp3 https://www.audiotreasure.com/indexKJV.htm
- World English Bible in Mp3 https://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
- World Wide Study Bible https://www.ccel.org/wwsb
- E-Sword Bible Software. Free software that will allow you to compare many translations at the same time https://www.e-sword.net/
- New World Translation https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/
Shipwrecked at Malta: A set of printable Bible-based activities including a coloring page, true/false quiz, circle-the-word activity, word search, maze, fill-in-the-blank, and crossword—all based on Acts 27:13–28:16.
Shipwrecked at Malta printable activity pack
Read Acts 27 about Paul’s shipwreck. This PDF study offers an in-depth academic perspective:
Saint Paul’s Captivity Voyage and Shipwreck (Acts 27–28) – scholarly article
Timeline
Browse a list of the most famous shipwrecks from the past 400 years:
Famous Shipwrecks List
Vocabulary
| Aft | Anchor | Astern |
| Bail | Bilge | Birth |
| Boom | Bow | Bowsprit |
| Bulkheads | Cabin | Cockpit |
| Chart | Compass | Deck |
| Dock | Fore | Foreward |
| Foremast | Foresail | Galley |
| Gunwale | Halyard | Head |
| Helm | Hull | Jib |
| Keel | Mainmast | Mainsheet |
| Mast | Outhaul | Port |
| Rigging | Rudder | Starboard |
| Stern | Swabbing the deck | Winch |
WordWeb – Free downloadable software to look up words.
Dictionary.com – Online dictionary for quick definitions and spelling help.
Island: Shipwreck Vocabulary PDF – Definitions and terms from the novel *Island: Shipwreck*.
Nautical Vocabulary Glossary (English–Spanish) – A bilingual glossary of maritime terms.
Book Resources
Non-Fiction Books
Ghost Liners by Robert D. Ballard – Exploring the World’s Greatest Lost Ships
Perils of the Atlantic by William H. Flayhart – Steamship Disasters, 1850 to the Present
100 Things You Should Know About Shipwrecks by Fiona MacDonald and Belinda Gallagher
Atlas of Shipwrecks and Treasure by Nigel Pickford
Shipwreck by Richard Platt – DK Eyewitness Books
Shipwreck Detective by Richard Platt and Duncan Cameron
Looking Inside Sunken Treasure by Ron Schultz, Nick Gadbois, and Peter Aschwanden – X-Ray Vision
Shipwrecks of the Explorers by K.C. Smith
Andrea Doria
Deep Descent: Adventure and Death Diving the Andrea Doria by Kevin McMurray (Adult)
Florida
Shipwrecks of Florida by Steven Singer
Language Arts
National Geographic Education Storytelling Series: Into the Depths with Tara Roberts – Learn how Tara Roberts dives into history to recover and share the stories of sunken slave ships, preserving important cultural legacies and uncovering hidden chapters of maritime history.
The Little-Known Shipwreck That Inspired Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ – National Geographic Article – Explore the real-life shipwreck that inspired the ghostly voyage of the Demeter in Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula. This article delves into the dark maritime history behind the famous story.
History Poetry & Music
Lee Murdock
LeeMurdock.com – Great Lakes maritime music and ballads
The Lost Lake Sailors – Songs about being lost at sea or in life
(Amazon Music)
Video Resources
Marine Archaeologists Dive WWII Shipwrecks (YouTube) – Jorge Ribas joins a crew exploring World War II shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina.
Yenikapı Byzantine Shipwrecks Project – Institute of Nautical Archaeology
The 2000-Year-Old Harbor Underneath Istanbul – A historic shipwreck discovery
The Shipwreck at Playa Damas – Possibly La Vizcaína from Columbus’s final voyage
Search YouTube: Cousteau and Shipwreck – Explore Cousteau shipwreck documentaries
PBS Shipwreck Playlist (YouTube)
Jacques Cousteau – Inventor of the aqua-lung, featured in the 1943 film Épaves (Shipwrecks)
PBS Wisconsin: Shipwrecks! – Full-length documentary
The Sinking of the Andrea Doria (YouTube)
Games
Shipwreck Vocabulary Sentence Practice – A vocabulary game for practicing shipwreck-related terms in sentence form
Shipwreck Vocabulary Word Search – Match definitions with terms in this themed word search
The Legend of the Lost Emerald – An interactive point-and-click game for grades 4–6, based on Great Lakes shipwreck history from PBS Wisconsin Education
Wreck Seeker – Explore Australia’s maritime history as a shipwreck-hunting archaeologist in this gamified learning platform
NOAA Shipwreck Lesson Plans & Activities – Includes critical thinking exercises, games, and other interactive content
USS Monitor Paper Model – Download and assemble a paper replica of the USS Monitor
Monitor Bingo – A printable bingo game themed around the Monitor shipwreck
Clip Art
Classroom Clipart – Shipwreck Search Results
Scene from the Story “The Shipwreck” – Educational Technology Clearinghouse
Dreamstime – Shipwreck Illustrations & Vectors
Getty Images – Shipwreck Illustrations
FreeImages – Shipwreck Clipart
Field Trips
Maritime Archaeology Trust – Interactive 3D Wreck Tours
NOAA – The Underwater World of Living Shipwrecks
Smithsonian – Virtual Reality Museum of Shipwrecked Vessels
Art, Pictures, and Craft Ideas
National Geographic – Underwater Shipwrecks Photo Gallery – Stunning images from beneath the sea
Neil Mawdsley – Shipwreck Artist – View his gallery of UK and US shipwreck paintings
Lesson Plans & Unit Studies
A Day in Our Ships and Floating Unit Study – A hands-on homeschool blog post by Sprittibee exploring boats and floating.
Cobblestone: Golden Age of the Steamboat (Nov 2006) – Downloadable teacher’s guide exploring steamboats in American history.
Odyssey Hunters Teacher’s Guide – Archived lesson guide with activities on maritime exploration and shipwrecks.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Unit Study – Explore this classic science fiction tale with themed activities and ideas.
Treasure Island Novel Study (Preview PDF) – Literature-based unit featuring comprehension questions and activities.
Regional & Historical Shipwreck Information
Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria and Rescue at Sea – Detailed history, photos, and personal accounts.
Wikipedia: SS Andrea Doria
Australia
Stories of Australian Lighthouses – Primary-level worksheets.
Lighthouse Unit Activity Worksheets – Secondary-level printables.
HMS Cerberus at Wrecksite
Blackbeard’s Shipwreck
National Geographic search results on Blackbeard’s shipwreck
Channel Islands
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (archived)
Delaware
Massachusetts
Whydah Pirate Museum – Cape Cod’s authentic pirate ship exhibition.
Steamship Portland – NOAA Sanctuary
Wikipedia: Portland Shipwreck
Gulf of Mexico
Historic Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Michigan
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum – Includes virtual tours.
Michigan DNR Shipwreck Map – Interactive shipwreck exploration.
Exxon Valdez
New Zealand
Shipwrecks in New Zealand – Includes the General Grant.
SS Lord Worsley at Wrecksite
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
Black Swan: Richest Shipwreck in History
Wikipedia: Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
Thunder Bay
Shipwreck Detectives Camp – NOAA (archived)
Vancouver
West Coast Shipwrecks (U.S.)
NOAA Bridge Archive: West Coast Shipwrecks
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Shipwrecks (Great Lakes Database)
Wisconsin Historical Society Shipwreck Essay
Marine Archaeology & Exploration
Introductory Resources
Shipwreck! Documenting an Underwater Site – Hands-on activities for students.
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration 2006 Expeditions Overview
NOAA Educational PDFs
AUVfest 2008: Shipwreck Mystery (Grades 7–8)
Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs and Wrecks (Grades 5–6)
Steamship Portland: Do You Have a Sinking Feeling? (Grades 9–12)
Black Sea 2006: Wreck Detectives (Grades 5–6)
AUVfest 2008: The Robot Archaeologist (Grades 9–12)
AUVfest 2008: Ship of the Line (Grades 5–6)
Videos & Media
Women of Science: Underwater Archaeology with Dr. Daria Merwin
Discovery.com Search: Shipwreck
Shipwreck Central YouTube Channel – Extensive shipwreck video collection.
Science
- I Can’t Breathe – Aegean and Black Sea 2006 Expedition resource on anoxic ocean environments. Grades 9–12.
- The Cells That Changed the World – Thunder Bay Sinkholes 2008 lesson on cyanobacteria. Grades 9–12.
- Biological Organisms in Cold Seep Communities – Thunder Bay Sinkholes 2008 exploration of life in extreme marine environments. Grades 7–8.
- Ping! – Steamship Portland lesson on side-scan sonar technology. Grades 7–8.
- Call to Arms – Deepwater Coral Expedition explores robotic analogues for human structures. Grades 5–6.
- Where’s the Energy? – Steamship Portland activity focused on energy conversions. Grades 5–6.
- All Steamed Up – Steamship Portland lesson on energy conversions and simple machines. Grades 7–8.
- Great Lakes Now Shipwrecks Lesson Plan – Explore corrosion, gas pressure changes, and chemical reactions in sunken Great Lakes ships. This lesson includes hands-on experiments like modeling corrosion and creating a Cartesian diver to demonstrate pressure and buoyancy principles. Suitable for middle and high school students.
- National Geographic Education Shipwrecks and Shipworms by Reuben Shipway – Discover the surprising role of shipworms in the natural decay of wooden shipwrecks. Marine biologist Reuben Shipway shares stories about these wood-eating clams, their impact on maritime history, and their potential uses in modern diets.
Float, Sink, Density
- Kids’ Floating and Density Experiments – A collection of fun experiments exploring why objects float or sink. (Archived page)
- Floating Lemons and Sinking Limes – A Steve Spangler Science experiment showing surprising results with fruit and water.
Forensics
- Underwater Forensics – A Discovery Education lesson plan exploring underwater investigation techniques.
Volcano
- The Volcano Factory – Aegean and Black Sea 2006 Expedition resource on volcanism for Grades 5–6.
- My Friend, the Volcano – Aegean and Black Sea 2006 Expedition resource on the ecological impacts of volcanism for Grades 7–8.
Social Studies
- PHAEDRA 2006: This Old Ship – A look at ancient and prehistoric shipwrecks in the Aegean. Designed for Grades 7–8.
- PHAEDRA 2006: Mapping the Aegean Seafloor – Explores bathymetric mapping of deep-sea bottom features. Grades 7–8.
Shipwrecks in History Information
- Shipwreck Webquest (6th Grade) – Explore famous shipwrecks through this guided classroom activity.
- Nova Scotia Virtual Webquest (Archived PDF) – A downloadable webquest about shipwrecks along the coast of Nova Scotia.
- Save Our History: American Lighthouses – History Channel documentary exploring the role of lighthouses in maritime safety. Also see the companion guide.
- Lost Liners – Join Dr. Bob Ballard on a PBS journey through some of the greatest lost ocean liners in history.
- The Longitude Problem – Learn how navigation and math intersected to solve one of history’s great challenges at sea.
- 500-Year-Old Shipwreck Discovery – Read how a historic shipwreck is reshaping what we know about the Age of Discovery.
Shipwrecks Lapbook Ideas
- Vocabulary Mini-Books
- Nautical Terms Flap Book – Define terms like hull, keel, port, starboard, and bilge.
- Shipwreck Synonyms Foldable – Match terms like wreck, ruin, disaster, capsized.
- English–Spanish Nautical Terms Matchbook – Pair English terms with their Spanish equivalents from the glossary.
- Famous Shipwrecks Match-Ups
- Timeline Accordion Fold – Feature famous wrecks (e.g., Andrea Doria, Lusitania, Portland) with year, cause, and location.
- Who, What, When, Where Cards – Flip cards with facts about shipwrecks across history.
- Bible Connection
- Paul’s Shipwreck Wheel – Rotating wheel showing Acts 27 scenes.
- Verse Copywork Pockets – Include key verses from Acts 27–28 or Psalm 107:23–30.
- Marine Archaeology
- Tool ID Lift-the-Flap – Name and define gear like sonar, diving suits, submersibles.
- What’s That Artifact? Tab Book – Identify items recovered from wreck sites.
- Ship Design & Science
- Float or Sink Experiment Booklet – Record predictions, outcomes, and conclusions.
- Ship Anatomy Layered Diagram – Stackable layers showing parts of a ship.
- Geography & Mapping
- Wreck Map Foldout – Plot shipwreck locations on a world or regional map.
- Latitude & Longitude Spinner – Practice identifying coordinates for wreck sites.
- Creative Writing Prompts
- “If I Were on That Ship…” Mini Journal – Personal response pages.
- Message in a Bottle Pocket – Students write messages as if stranded at sea.
- Great Lakes Shipwrecks (Optional Add-on)
- Fitzgerald Facts Flaps – Save space for facts once that section is added.
- Lake Depth Chart – Visual comparison of wrecks by depth and lake.
Evaluation Ideas
Assemble a three ring binder and please include:
- A copy of this unit
- Course Description (Highschool Students)
- Write a summary about books read for the unit
- Write an essay on the various topics discussed
- Your Lapbook created for the unit (K-8 Students)
- Any worksheets or activity books created with SchoolhouseTech Software https://www.schoolhousetech.com/
- Your journal and its contents
- Your Log of activities from Homeschool Tracker https://www.homeschooltracker.com/free-homeschool-tracker-basic-edition Its Free!
- Your Timeline
Originally compiled March 29, 2009, this Shipwrecks Unit Study has been expanded and updated with fresh links, printables, and hands-on resources. Dedicated pages for the Titanic and Edmund Fitzgerald are in the works for more in-depth exploration.
