Friday, January 24, 2020

Abandon Ship! Day 1: Simulation

For today's lesson, we are doing a simulation that is based on real events.  Please open this link and follow the instructions.




Once you have finished with the link above, continue reading below.








We just did an activity based on the real-life events that were portrayed in the movie Abandon Ship! (1957).


First, students chose a role.

Then, I told them that just like in real life, a storm was threatening the boat so they must choose 7 people to place a life preserver around and send them into the ocean.

After the group makes their decisions, I tell them the real story of what happened which was based on the movie Abandon Ship, also known as Seven Waves Away.  Here is the full movie on youtube.

In the real-life incident, all of those aboard turned to the highest-ranking person (ship’s officer) to take command.  He had a sidearm on him.  When the sea got too rough, he called everyone’s attention and he chose who would go/stay.  He kept only the strong, able-bodied who were strong enough to survive a long row.  On the last day, they were rescued and the captain was put on trial for murder.  He was declared guilty, but received a minimum sentence of only 6 months in prison because of the unique circumstances.


9 comments:

  1. This looked like such a fun activity, I wish I hadn't of missed it.

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  2. This activity was a great way to teach us about Macro and Micro Sociology. Not only did i learn alot but it but we alot of fun yelling at people and choosing who should stay on the boat and who should get off.

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  3. i really liked this activity because it showed us how to put our priorities to people's lives.

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  4. I also really enjoyed this activity because I got to see what people valued. Most people didn't value the old because they were weak and unuseful. Like Mr. Salituro said, China values old people immensley because they have been around life a long time and have a lot of knowlege to offer. However, I would have also voted to kick off the old because they are weak and wouldn't have much to offer. Also, most students in my class valued strength to help them in this situation and I would have to agree. I think this was a fun way to learn how Macro and Micro Sociology works.

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  5. I really liked this activity because it was easier and better to understand because it was a good visual way of seeing how we would kick off people by what they consist of. It shows who we would have voted off as a class and who we thought belonged on the boat. People in my class felt that the stronger and smarter people should have stayed over the older and injured and id have to say i agreed with them. I was the Quarter Master and i had broken wrists to i was kicked off immediately. This was a good activity and i liked how we got to act it out and see what it was like doing a sort of live example.

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  6. This activity was a lot of fun. Even though i wasn't involved in it, it was entertaining to watch. This activity made people realize how important it is to include everyone - regardless of the age. Like for example, people in my class who were the elderly had much to offer. However, most people didn't listen to what they had to say. They were only concerned with themselves and how they would survive. I think that those who were voted off had much to offer, but people these days are so caught up in their own world. Nonetheless, it was a great activity and I had fun watching.

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  7. Wondering where you got your character profiles. Would like to try this activity in class. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi BH, I inherited the profiles from a now-retired sociology teacher, my mentor, Joe Cecchini. He loosely based them off of the movie starring Tyrone Powers which was based off real life. I have thought about changing the roles over the years, but I have all of the data for who has been thrown off and I like being able to compare it, so...it remains. I think you can find the lesson at the ASAtrails lesson plan database or in our Chicago Area Sociology Teachers google group, or email me.

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  8. Hi BH, I inherited the profiles from a now-retired sociology teacher, my mentor, Joe Cecchini. He loosely based them off of the movie starring Tyrone Powers which was based off real life. I have thought about changing the roles over the years, but I have all of the data for who has been thrown off and I like being able to compare it, so...it remains. I think you can find the lesson at the ASAtrails lesson plan database or in our Chicago Area Sociology Teachers google group, or email me.

    ReplyDelete