The students will gain an understanding of the social expectations of the early 1900's, the time period of the Titanic.

The students will learn to be conscious of their actions.

Resources:

Post, Emily. (1969). Etiquette. New York: Funk & Hagnalls.

Materials:

lady's and gentleman's costumes from the 1910's

servant girl's and servant boy's costume from the 1910's

bucket

cards with half of the students' names on them

list of etiquette

lady and gentleman score board

prize certificates

Time:

This lesson will take three hours of class time, but will also last throughout the entire day.

Procedure:

1.  Upon the arrival of the students the room will be divided in half. Boys on one side; girls on the other.

2.  Explain the social norms between members of the opposite gender.

3.  Pass out the list of etiquette rules.

4.  The students must follow the behaviors on the list for the duration of the day. The following are suggestions:



a. ladies crossed ankles, not legs
b. people address each other by Mr... Mrs... and Miss...
c. women must never go somewhere unchaperoned
d. use proper words, not slang
e. gentlemen rise when ladies enter the room
f. be calm, do not make a scene
g. use utensils, not hands to eat
 
5.  Discuss the list with the class and ask if any students would like to add anything.

6.  Ask for four student volunteers to change into the time period costumes.

7.  Discuss the wardrobe with the class.

8.  Let the students change back into their regular clothes.

9.  The students walk with books on their heads to show an example of posture.

10.  Half of the students in the class pick a card out of the bucket. The two students are now each other's chaperons.

11.  Explain that the students will act using the manners on the list for the duration of the day.

12.  Each time a student acts "improperly" he or she will get a point on the "Lady and Gentleman Score Board."

13.  Those who receive no more than the amount of points the teacher designated, will receive a Lady or Gentleman of the Day Certificate.

14.  The students will write a reaction to this lesson in their journals.

15.  Hold a class discussion about how women and men's roles have changed since this time and how some cultures continue to have strict rules for women. Discuss how the strict rules made the students feel and have them decide if they like etiquette better today.

Assessment:

The students must write a reaction to this lesson in their journals. Criteria for success: The students need to write about four things they learned during this lesson.

The students must earn no more than 20 points in order to receive an award. Criteria for success: The student earns an award.

Curriculum Strands and Major Concepts:

Social Studies - see how people interacted with each other during different time periods

Language Arts - writing in journal, communicating with classmates

Have the students interview their grandparents or friends of the family who lived during this time period to see how they felt about manners.

Have the students watch the clip from the movie A League of Their Own where the girls go to etiquette school then discuss what they saw.

The Titanic - developed by Kelly Coleman, Nikki Cosgrove, Megan Mills, & Dorothy Weber

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This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program.