You Can Use Wikipedia for This

Me:  "Today we are going to read a small excerpt from Miss F's book about the Titanic."

Student:  "The Titanic?  Is that appropriate for school?"

Me:  "What do you mean?  This chapter is about the construction of the ship and passengers aboard.  The accident is in later chapters that you will have to read on your own."

Student:  "Uhhhh,wait.  You mean this is real?

*my best confused look*

Student:  "Like the Titanic thing actually happened?  Jack, Rose, Titanic, iceberg?"

*inward palm-to-face action*

Me (in a relatively calm manner):  "Um, yes... This is a true historical event.  This actually happened.  There was a ship called the Titanic, supposedly unsinkable, and thousands of people died when it struck an iceberg and sank.  Jack and Rose's story is not true, but there may have been a couple on board who lived their tale, we don't know.  There was a Jack on board quite coincidentally.  But the whole build-up about the Titanic and its destruction are true."

Student:  "Oh."

Imagine my horror.  Imagine my surprise.  I had heard about this when the Titanic re-released in 3D; I had laughed when I heard about younger people who didn't realize the sinking of the Titanic was an actual event.  But here was a case of that staring me in the face!  I'm not laughing anymore.

Eventually we were able to read more about the ship and the real passengers.  I'm lucky they were intrigued because of the movie and the idea.  But goodness, when these kids saw the movie or heard about it, they didn't Google it at all?!  Even to look up about Jack and Rose?  Although I suppose pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet popped up and they got distracted.  Either way, in order to for them to get the very BASICS, I allowed them to read Wikipedia (which they were more stunned about).  WHISPER:  Don't be fooled; I am actually a fan of Wikipedia in order to acquire other, more reliable, sources.

I hope to teach these students that usually the very best of movies are mere attempts to depict the "coolest" of events or books.  Cross your fingers.