Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
04/01/2024
Baltimore bridge collapse timeline
About 45 minutes after leaving the dock at Baltimore early last Tuesday, a 100,000-ton container ship struck a column supporting the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge, which then collapsed into the water along with an eight-man work crew. Shortly before the collapse, the ship twice lost power and its steering ability. It sent a distress call, and authorities quickly stopped vehicles from entering the bridge but were failed to get the work crew off the span.
■Class discussion: Any vessel cannot be controlled if it loses power, be it an engine, sail, or oars. Should the ship’s crew be blamed for the disaster? How about the ship’s owner if it was caused by a mechanical failure? What if it was caused by contaminated fuel? Many cargo ships suffer temporary breakdowns yearly, but most occur in open water. Are ships in more danger the closer they get to land? There are much bigger ships than the one in Baltimore. Are they more dangerous?