9.31 Bermuda Triangle Stories: Lesson for Kids

A number of planes and ships have gone missing in an area of the ocean called the Bermuda Triangle. Learn more about these strange disappearances and some theories as to why they may have happened.

What is the Bermuda Triangle?

When people get in an airplane, the last thought on their mind is that the airplane might disappear. Sure – planes can be delayed, or even crash, but a disappearing plane is a pretty far-fetched idea. This is what makes the Bermuda Triangle such a mystery.

The Bermuda Triangle is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that lies between the island of Bermuda, the state of Florida, and Puerto Rico. For many, many years, very strange things have taken place in the Bermuda Triangle that have left people stumped. Boats have gone missing, planes have vanished, and some people even swear that they have seen UFO activity in the Bermuda Triangle.

The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the Atlantic Ocean where strange things have happened
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1. Main points:

The Bermuda Triangle is a mysterious area in the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico where planes and boats have mysteriously vanished.

2. Questions:

– Content Analysis: What is the Bermuda Triangle known for?
– Contextual Analysis: Where is the Bermuda Triangle located geographically?
– Thematic Analysis: What kinds of unusual events are mentioned to have happened in the Bermuda Triangle?

3. Further Discussion:

Do you think the Bermuda Triangle could have a scientific explanation, or is it purely a thing of myths and legends?

4. Answers:

– Content Analysis: The Bermuda Triangle is known for "very strange things have taken place" and "planes have vanished, boats have gone missing."
– Contextual Analysis: The Bermuda Triangle is "the part of the Atlantic Ocean that lies between the island of Bermuda, the state of Florida, and Puerto Rico."
– Thematic Analysis: Unusual events like "Boats have gone missing, planes have vanished, and some people even swear that they have seen UFO activity" have happened in the Bermuda Triangle.

Lost Planes and Ships

One of the first accounts of of a plane that went missing after flying over the Bermuda Triangle was in 1945, when Flight 19 departed from the U.S. Naval Base in Florida for a training session, but never returned. When two planes went out to search for it, only one returned. The remains of the planes have never been found. Since then, other aircrafts have mysteriously disappeared, such as the Tudor Star Tiger (a passenger aircraft flying to Jamaica in 1949), Flight 441 (a naval aircraft on the way to Portugal in 1954) and a DC-3 passenger airplane flying to Miami in 1948.

Boats have also vanished without a trace while sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. These boats are known as ghost ships. In 1872, the boat known as Mary Celeste never arrived at its destination. People were able to find the boat, but no humans – dead or alive – were found.

In another instance, the Ellen Austin, an American boat, passed another ship in Bermuda Triangle. The other ship was sailing at full speed, but there were no passengers on board. One of the most infamous ghost ships was the Carroll A. Deering. In 1921, this ghost ship was sailing from Brazil to Maine. It was later found abandoned with none of the people in sight. They were gone forever.

The Carroll A. Deering disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle
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1. Main points:

The text talks about specific incidents of planes and boats mysteriously disappearing while passing through the Bermuda Triangle, including stories about "ghost ships."

2. Questions:

– Content Analysis: What happened to Flight 19 in 1945?
– Contextual Analysis: What time periods are mentioned for these mysterious disappearances?
– Ideological Analysis: What does the term "ghost ships" imply about the vanished boats?

3. Further Discussion:

Why do you think stories of the Bermuda Triangle continue to capture people’s imagination?

4. Answers:

– Content Analysis: In 1945, "Flight 19 departed from the U.S. Naval Base in Florida for a training session, but never returned."
– Contextual Analysis: The time periods mentioned range from "1872" to "1921" and "1945."
– Ideological Analysis: The term "ghost ships" implies that the boats "vanished without a trace" and were later found "abandoned with none of the people in sight."

Popular Theories

While nothing has ever been proven in the cases of the Bermuda Triangle, there are some theories that scientists have come up with in order to explain the disappearances. One theory is that methane gas is trapped under the sea floor in the Bermuda Triangle. The methane gas can erupt from time to time. This causes the water to become less dense and the ships to sink and the planes to catch fire.

Another theory is the Sargasso Sea theory. Allegedly, the Sargasso Sea is an unusual body of water that has no current or waves. This causes ships to get stuck and lose the ability to move forward.

Some people believe that the disappearances over the Bermuda Triangle were caused by UFOs
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Other people believe that paranormal activity has been the cause of the disappearances. This means that something happened that cannot be explained by science. According to these theories, the disappearances have been caused by aliens in UFOs.

1. Main points:

The text presents two popular theories that scientists have suggested to explain the mysterious disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle: the methane gas theory and the Sargasso Sea theory.

2. Questions:

– Content Analysis: What are the two theories mentioned to explain disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle?
– Semiotic Analysis: What does the term "Sargasso Sea" signify in relation to the Bermuda Triangle?
– Socio-cultural Analysis: Why do you think scientists are interested in coming up with theories for the Bermuda Triangle?

3. Further Discussion:

If you were a scientist, which theory would you like to test and how would you go about doing it?

4. Answers:

– Content Analysis: The two theories mentioned are that "methane gas is trapped under the sea floor in the Bermuda Triangle" and "the Sargasso Sea is an unusual body of water that has no current or waves."
– Semiotic Analysis: The term "Sargasso Sea" signifies an unusual body of water that "has no current or waves," leading to the idea that ships get "stuck and lose the ability to move forward."
– Socio-cultural Analysis: While the text doesn’t specifically say why scientists are interested, it does note that "scientists have come up with" theories to "explain the disappearances," implying a cultural and scientific desire to solve mysteries.

Facts vs. Myths

When learning stories of the Bermuda Triangle, it is important to separate facts – things we know to be true – and myths, or stories that have never been proven true. The only facts we know for certain are that many ships and planes have disappeared after taking trips through the Bermuda Triangle. The reasons as to why they disappeared are merely myths, because they have not been proven to be true. Since these disappearances happened so long ago, new theories are developed all the time. Furthermore, as time goes on, people tend to exaggerate the stories.

1. Main points:

The text emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between facts and myths when learning about the Bermuda Triangle, noting that the only confirmed fact is that many ships and planes have disappeared there.

2. Questions:

– Content Analysis: What is the one fact that we know for sure about the Bermuda Triangle?
– Ideological Analysis: Why is it important to separate facts from myths when discussing the Bermuda Triangle?
– Thematic Analysis: What happens to the stories about the Bermuda Triangle as time goes on?

3. Further Discussion:

Do you think it’s easier or harder to separate facts from myths in our age of technology and information?

4. Answers:

– Content Analysis: The one fact we know for sure is that "many ships and planes have disappeared after taking trips through the Bermuda Triangle."
– Ideological Analysis: It’s important to separate facts from myths because the "reasons as to why they disappeared are merely myths, because they have not been proven to be true."
– Thematic Analysis: As time goes on, "people tend to exaggerate the stories."

Lesson Summary

The Bermuda Triangle is part of the Atlantic Ocean with a fascinating history. Many planes and ships have vanished without a trace in this area, and without an explanation. While it can be fun to read and share stories about the Bermuda Triangle, it is important to remember that they are just stories. None of the theories about why these crafts have disappeared have been proven to be true – yet.