Lesson Plan - Vanished!

Watch a Video
Watch the video “The Mystery of Amelia Earhart” and ask: Why was Earhart’s plan to fly around the world considered a big deal?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• aviator 
• sonar

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why Amelia Earhart continues to fascinate people.

1. Based on the article, why do you think the disappearance of Amelia Earhart is considered “one of history’s greatest mysteries”?
Sample response: The disappearance of Amelia Earhart is probably considered “one of history’s greatest mysteries” because Earhart was a huge celebrity and her final flight received a lot of attention. When her plane vanished over the Pacific Ocean, no one knew what had happened. It has remained unsolved for almost 87 years.
^{R.1 Demonstrate Understanding}

2. What made the 1937 search for Amelia Earhart’s plane difficult?
The 1937 search for Amelia Earhart’s plane was difficult because searchers did not know exactly where the plane had disappeared. They had to search a huge area­—about the size of Texas.
^{R.5 Cause/Effect} 

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Did They Survive?”
The purpose of the sidebar, “Did They Survive?,” is to explore one popular theory about what might have happened to Earhart and Noonan. The sidebar explains that some believe they could have crash-landed on a small island called Nikumaroro. Nothing linked to Earhart or Noonan has ever been found on the island.
^{R.7 Text Features}

Featured Skill: Making Inferences
Distribute the skill builder “What Can You Infer?” and have students answer the questions to make inferences related to the article. Review their responses as a class.
^{R.1 Make Inferences}