EXPLORATION | Around the World Book Club | Independent/Partner/Small Group
EXPLORATION: Around the World Book Club
About This Book A pile of 300-year- old shackles discovered on the seafloor in the remains of a ship called the Henrietta Marie sends Michael Cottman, a Washington, D.C.- based journalist and avid scuba diver, on a journey that stretches across three continents, from foundries and tombs in England, to slave ports on the shores of West Africa, to present- day Caribbean plantations. While Cottman focuses on the journey of one slave ship, he imagines the untold suffering of millions of enslaved Africans. GRL: X Pages: 133
Shackles from the Deep By Michael H. Cottman A pile of iron shackles discovered on the sea floor leads journalist Michael Cottman on a globe-spanning quest for the truth about the trade of enslaved people.
archaeologists Definition: people who study human history and prehistory by finding buried places and objects (noun) Reference: “Divers, treasure salvagers, and marine archaeologists were all talking about this mysterious shipwreck.” (p. 27) Question: Why would a law require archaeologists to check a construction site before construction begins? ______________________ ______________________ inquisitive Definition: curious (adj.) Reference: “The inquisitive man on the other end of the phone was Dr. José ‘Doc’ Jones.” (p. 102) Question: Do you think being inquisitive is positive or negative? Why? ______________________ ______________________ relic Definition: an object surviving from an earlier era (noun) Reference: “I was touching the Henrietta Marie , a vital part of global history, and, for African Americans, a relic of a painful past.” (p. 114) Question: What’s a relic that you’ve seen? ______________________
#1: Preview Your Book a. Examine the front and back covers, and read the last paragraph on page 10. What can you tell about the purpose of this book?
b. Flip through the book, noticing the text in capital letters that appears in the middle and ends of chapters. What do these quotes tell you about the author’s role?
#2: Learn Some Words The words to the left are from this book. As you read, look for them. When you spot one, answer the related question. #3: Prepare and Discuss As you read, stop when you get to the pages listed here. Answer the questions and discuss them with others. Bring your own questions, too. a. After p. 27: How did Moe Molinar’s treasure hunt in July 1972 turn out differently from what he had expected? Have you ever looked for one thing and found something completely unexpected? Explain.
b. After p. 50: Why is the author fascinated by Anthony Tourney?
c. After p. 65: What do the iron shackles and cannons made in England tell you about the slave trade?
20 Scholar Zone Summer: Reading & Writing
Sample Answers #1: Preview Your Book a. The purpose of the book is to tell about the discovery of a sunken slave ship, the Henrietta Marie , to help readers understand the history of enslavement in the U.S. b. The author is part of the story, asking questions and reflecting on what he’s learning. #2: Learn Some Words Responses will vary but should reflect an understanding of the words. #3: Prepare and Discuss a. Key ideas and details/personal connection: He had been looking for a wreck with treasure. Instead, he found the remains of a slave ship. b. Identify reasons and evidence: He learns that Tourney was enriched by the slave trade, even making shackles to enslave African children. c. Draw conclusions: Many people made money from the slave trade—not only the slave merchants and plantation owners, but the SZ_Summer 2023_Reading and Writing SH_G7_012-021.indd 20 11/01/23 8:01 PM
26 Scholar Zone Summer: Reading & Writing
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