A Trip of Titanic Proportions!
Today, Year 5 set off on an unforgettable journey to the very place where the Titanic began her maiden voyage- Southampton! With excitement buzzing all around, we arrived at SeaCity Museum, ready to step back in time.
After safely storing our coats and bags, we kicked off the day with a fantastic Titanic workshop. The workshop leader was hugely impressed by the children’s existing knowledge of this iconic ship, and it wasn’t long before everyone was fully immersed in a range of hands-on activities designed to challenge thinking, teamwork and communication skills.
The activities included:
Morse Code – children created and decoded messages to warn other ships of the disaster, filling the room with beeps, dots, and dashes!
Water Investigation – a scientific experiment exploring the reasons behind the Titanic’s sinking
Artefact Handling – examining replica objects such as binoculars and old-fashioned water bottles to bring history to life
‘Who Should Be Saved?’ – a powerful discussion around lifeboat choices, where pupils debated who they believed should board and why
After an action-packed morning, it was time to refuel with lunch (much enjoyed by all!). We then split into groups to explore the museum’s incredible interactive exhibits. The children tested their skills by steering the ship, shovelling coal against the clock, identifying passengers through their clothing and even acting as jurors in a courtroom to decide who was truly to blame for the tragedy. Of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to the SeaCity gift shop - a definite highlight for many!
In the afternoon, we took part in our discovery session. Our knowledgeable and engaging tour guide welcomed us into the grand hall and introduced us to the many different crew roles on board the Titanic. We heard a fascinating survival story about Thomas and Frederick, two men who escaped the sinking by climbing up the fourth (and fake) funnel. We also learned how desperate passengers threw objects such as deckchairs into the sea, using anything they could as flotation devices to survive the freezing Atlantic waters.
In the map room, the children explored the huge impact the Titanic disaster had on Southampton and its communities. The tour flew by, and by the end of the day, the children’s minds were bursting with powerful stories and new knowledge about this historic event from 1912.
The trip was truly amazing, and the children were absolute STARS throughout the day!
A huge thank you to Anthony, Carly, Helen, and Mrs. Murray for their incredible support, hard work, and enthusiasm. You were a fantastic crew and the children loved having you with them on this memorable adventure.
Captain Prior
