Lesson Plan for Texas City Disaster
Fourth Grade

Objective: The learner will understand the “Texas City Disaster,” the largest industrial accident in United States history. The learner will examine the explosions of the SS Grandcamp and the SS High Flyer and their effect on the oil refining center of Texas City and an industrial safety procedures TEKS §113.6. Social Studies, Grade 4. (b)(5)(A)

The learner will understand the economic importance of Texas City and the economic and social impact of the disaster. TEKS §113.6. Social Studies, Grade 4. (b)(14)(A)(B)

The learner will apply critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources including electronic technology based primary sources. TEKS §113.6. Social Studies, Grade 4. (b)(22)(A)(B)(D)(E)

The learner will communicate in written and oral forms, incorporating main and supporting ideas. TEKS §113.6. Social Studies, Grade 4. (b)(23)(A)(B)(C)(E)

Assumptions: Students will be familiar with the economic conditions in post World War II Texas and understand the importance of oil to the Texas economy.

Materials: Digital and printed material from: the Moore Memorial Public Library Texas City Disaster Collection and personal stories from We Were There: A Collection of the Personal Stories of Survivors of the 1947 Ship Explosions in Texas City, Texas (Texas City, TX: Mainland Museum of Texas City, 1997) .

Anticipatory Set: The instructor may want to display the image from slide one and ask the learners how important the Texas City port would be to the Texas Economy.

Instructional Input: Instructors and students discuss various aspects of the personal accounts and photographs pertaining to the Texas City Disaster.

Assessment Activity: Complete the “Texas City Disaster” worksheet.

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