The Titanic
Just over 100 years ago, on 15th April 1912, the world's largest passenger liner at the time, the Titanic, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic, which was on its maiden (first) voyage, hit an iceberg and over 1,500 passengers were drowned. We have a number of activities and printables with which to introduce the story of the Titanic to children.
The Titanic - a Folk Song
When I was at primary school (many years ago) we learned to sing the folk song "Oh they built the ship Titanic". I remember rushing home to find out more about the event from my parents, looking up the Titanic in our encyclopedia. I was thrilled to find a lovely video version of the song which you'll find below. It's a great place to start! And I've put the words below the video if you want to sing along...
Oh, they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue
And they thought they had a ship that the water would never go through
But the Lord's almighty hand knew that ship would never land
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus:
It was sad (it was sad)
It was sad (it was sad)
It was sad when that great ship went down
Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Oh she was far from England and approaching to the shore
When the rich refused to associate with the poor
So they put them down below, where they were the first to go
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus:
As the humble closed their eyes in the darkness of the hold,
The rich upstairs were playing cards for gold
And they laughed when a sailor said "There's an iceberg close ahead".
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus
When the Captain heard the news from a sailor up the mast,
He said "Steady boys, we'd better not go too fast."
But the Company in their greed said "We must increase the speed."
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus
The boat was full of water, and the sides about to burst,
When the Captaina man on board shouted "Women and children first!"
It was a night none will forget; even millionaires got wet,
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus
Oh they put the lifeboats out over the deep and stormy sea
And the band on board played "Nearer my God to Thee".
Little children wept and cried as the waves crept over the side.
It was sad when that great ship went down.
Chorus
