Ghost Ship Slides
Maritime Literacy Lab
7th Grade Reading
The Ghost Ship Mystery
Mastering the GIST Summarizing Strategy through the historical mystery of the Mary Celeste.
Lesson 1: Summarizing Informational Text
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Case File #1872
The Hook
Sailing into Silence
On December 4, 1872, a British merchant ship spotted a vessel drifting aimlessly in the Atlantic Ocean.
When sailors boarded the ship, they found it completely deserted. Personal belongings were in place, the cargo was untouched, and food was left behind—but the crew of ten had vanished without a trace.
The Big Question
How do we filter out theories, drama, and minor details to write a clear, factual summary of what actually happened?
The Mystery of the Mary Celeste
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Skill Focus
Definitions
What is a Summary?
A Summary IS:
- • Brief (usually just 1-3 sentences)
- • Completely objective (no personal opinions)
- • Focused only on the most important details
A Summary IS NOT:
- • A complete retelling of every page
- • A review or opinion paper ("I think that...")
- • Full of quotes or tiny, specific details
Skill Development
Slide 3 of 8
Strategy Tool
The GIST Method
How to Get the GIST
GIST stands for Generating Interactions between Schemata and Texts. It is a formula to find the absolute core of any text.
WHO
is the passage mainly about?
WHAT
did they do or what happened?
WHEN
did this event take place?
WHERE
did this event take place?
WHY
or how did it happen?
Goal: Combine all 5 answers into a single sentence of 20 words or less!
Instructional Strategy
Slide 4 of 8
Active Reading
Annotation
Active Reading: Spotting the Clues
Before we write our summary, we have to interact with the text. We will use specific annotations to gather our facts:
1
Underline
Underline names of key figures, ships, dates, and locations.
2
[Bracket]
Bracket key actions or clues (e.g., [the lifeboat was missing]).
3
Question (?)
Write a question mark next to conflicting theories or confusing points.
Close Reading Practice
Slide 5 of 8
Guided Practice
Interactive
Guided Practice: Finding the Core
"In November 1872, Captain Benjamin Briggs set sail on the American brigantine Mary Celeste from New York, heading to Genoa, Italy, with his family and eight crew members, carrying a cargo of industrial alcohol."
WHO: Captain Benjamin Briggs & crew
WHAT: Set sail with industrial cargo
WHEN: November 1872
WHERE: From New York to Genoa, Italy
Combined Draft: In November 1872, Captain Briggs set sail from New York with cargo and a crew of eight. (18 words)
Class Collaboration
Slide 6 of 8
Critique Lounge
Analysis
Exemplar vs. Non-Exemplar
Summary Draft A
"The Mary Celeste was found floating in the water. I think a giant squid might have attacked them because there was food on the tables and a sword was found on the floor. It's super creepy."
Issues: Contains opinion, rumors, and minor speculative details.
Summary Draft B
"In December 1872, the Mary Celeste was found abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean with its crew missing, leaving historians to debate why they evacuated."
Strengths: Factual, concise, and hits the core elements (Who, What, When, Why).
Evaluating Summaries
Slide 7 of 8
Your Assignment
Next Steps
Time to Investigate!
You will receive the Ghost Ship Summary Detective Worksheet. Your mission is to:
1
Read and Annotate: Read the full file on the Mary Celeste.
2
Fill the GIST Organizer: Identify the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
3
Draft & Refine: Write a final summary of under 25 words.
Pro-Tip
Eliminate descriptive adjectives (like "creepy," "spooky," "valiant") to keep your language perfectly factual and objective!
Ready to Write
Slide 8 of 8
Ghost Ship Summary Worksheet
CASE FILE: 1872-MC
GIST Literacy Investigation
Ghost Ship Summary Worksheet
LEVEL: 7TH
Detective Name ___________________________
Date of Investigation ___________________________
Class Period ___________________________
The Enigma of the Mary Celeste
Historical Source File / Reading Passage
On December 4, 1872, a British cargo ship named the Dei Gratia was sailing through rough Atlantic waters between the Azores and Portugal when its captain spotted a mysterious vessel drifting aimlessly. Upon approaching, the captain recognized it as the Mary Celeste—an American merchant ship that had departed New York a month earlier, bound for Genoa, Italy.
When the boarding party stepped onto the Mary Celeste, they entered a scene that would puzzle historians for centuries. The ship was fully seaworthy, with its sails partially set and a massive six-month supply of food and water completely intact. Personal belongings of the crew lay undisturbed in their cabins, and the cargo of 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol remained secure. However, every single person on board—Captain Benjamin Briggs, his wife, his young daughter, and seven crew members—had vanished.
The ship's only lifeboat was missing, along with basic navigation tools like the chronometer and the captain's logbook. There were no signs of a struggle or pirate attack. Over the years, theories ranged from giant sea monsters to pirate raids and mutiny. However, modern researchers believe a leaking hull or fear of an explosion from the chemical cargo forced the captain to order a temporary evacuation in the lifeboat, which then likely sank in stormy waters.
Active Annotation Guide
Before turning the page, complete these three critical annotation steps on the text above to collect your clues.
Underline the names of key figures, dates, and locations.
Bracket [ ] the core physical evidence found by the boarding party.
Circle the most likely scientific explanation for the disappearance.
THE MARY CELESTE CASE FILE
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CASE FILE: 1872-MC
Stage 2: Gathering the GIST
Detective Notebook
The GIST Evidence Organizer
Extract the five essential elements (the 5 Ws) from the text. Keep each answer brief (under 8 words).
WHO is the subject of this mystery?
WHAT happened to the ship & crew?
WHEN did this event take place?
WHERE was the abandoned ship found?
WHY or HOW do experts believe they evacuated? (What was the cause?)
Ghost Ship Summary Teacher Guide
TEACHER RESOURCE
Instructional Master Plan
Ghost Ship Summary Teacher Guide
Pacing guide, exemplar keys, common student pitfalls, and a complete grading rubric for teaching the GIST strategy using the Mary Celeste case study.
Recommended Lesson Pacing (50 Minutes)
- 10m Hook & Intro: Walk through Slides 2-3. Introduce the mystery and discuss what makes an objective summary.
- 10m Strategy Modeling: Teach GIST (Slides 4-5). Identify the 5 Ws together using Slide 6.
- 15m Reading & Annotation: Students read the Mary Celeste passage and perform annotations.
- 15m Organizer & GIST Drafting: Students complete Page 2 of worksheet. Finish with peer feedback.
Core Standards (CCSS)
RI.7.2: Determine central ideas in a text and provide an objective summary.
Key Focus: Help 7th graders separate sensationalist theories (sea monsters) from factual evidence.
Exemplar Key: GIST Organizer (5 Ws)
WHO
Captain Briggs, his family, and 8 crew members.
WHAT
Mysteriously abandoned their seaworthy ship.
WHEN
December 1872.
WHERE
Atlantic Ocean (Azores to Portugal).
WHY/HOW
Feared physical leakage or alcohol explosion.
Exemplar GIST Summary (23 Words): "In December 1872, Captain Briggs' crew mysteriously abandoned the Mary Celeste in the Atlantic Ocean, likely fleeing a feared explosion in their lifeboat."
Common Pitfalls & Fixes
- Sensationalism: Stating sea monsters or ghosts took the crew. Fix: Ask: "Is there evidence on the ship to prove a sea monster was there?"
- Over-detailing: Detailing chemical alcohol or exact cargo specs. Fix: Cross out descriptive adjectives to hit the 25-word cap.
Quick Grading Rubric
5 Ws Accounted: Fills all organizer boxes 2 pts
Factual Objectivity: No opinion/speculation 2 pts
Word Limit Constraint: Under 25 words 1 pt
Total Points possible: 5 Points
THE MARY CELESTE TEACHER CASE FILE
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