Exploring the Fascinating Historical Origins of Moby Dick!
Help me give my students 40 copies of "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" in order to explore 19th century economics and racism through a harrowing tale of sacrifice and survival.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Keith's classroom raised $465
This project is fully funded
My Project
I want to expand the minds of my students by exploring 19th century Westward Expansion by reading "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex". It is a tale so shocking, that it inspired the beloved classic "Moby Dick". Today, in most English classes across NYC and the country, students do not have the joyful experience of reading a book with their classmates. It's an experience so many of us hold dear from K-12.
My goal with reading In the Heart of the Sea is to have that magic moment that so many of us recall, by having students read the book together, experiencing each laugh, shock, and tragedy as a group.
The book itself is an incredible true story of a crew who set out for sperm whale oil in 1821, only to be stranded at sea and face a true nightmare in the wilderness that is the Pacific Ocean. Through reading and discussing this book, students will have the opportunity to study 19th century economics and the conditions working people faced and endured in the growing Industrial Revolution. They will also have a chance to study racism through the inequities suffered by the African American sailors on the crew. I personally found this book shocking and powerful. I am so excited to share it with my students!
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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