Social StudiesEnglish Language Arts9-12+
Arson Investigation: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Case Study
By Andrew C.
A primary-source case study worksheet for 9th graders that walks students through the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire as a criminal investigation. Students build skills in analyzing historical documents, weighing evidence, and applying legal concepts like arson, negligence, and manslaughter, with key terms defined up front to support reading.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 60-90 minute lesson or a two-day investigation, pairing the case background with the primary sources so students see how investigators built their case.
- Discussion question: What evidence would have been needed to prove the fire was deliberately set, and how did the factory's locked exits and conditions affect the question of negligence?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the three key terms, and have students fill in a simple evidence chart (source, what it says, what it suggests) before tackling longer excerpts.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to argue, using the sources, whether the owners should have been charged with manslaughter, and to compare the case to modern workplace safety regulation.
- Estimated time: 60-90 minutes for a single session, or about 2 class periods with source analysis and discussion.
Social StudiesEnglish Language Arts9-12+
Arson Investigation: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Case Study
By Andrew C.
A primary-source case study worksheet for 9th graders that walks students through the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire as a criminal investigation. Students build skills in analyzing historical documents, weighing evidence, and applying legal concepts like arson, negligence, and manslaughter, with key terms defined up front to support reading.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 60-90 minute lesson or a two-day investigation, pairing the case background with the primary sources so students see how investigators built their case.
- Discussion question: What evidence would have been needed to prove the fire was deliberately set, and how did the factory's locked exits and conditions affect the question of negligence?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the three key terms, and have students fill in a simple evidence chart (source, what it says, what it suggests) before tackling longer excerpts.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to argue, using the sources, whether the owners should have been charged with manslaughter, and to compare the case to modern workplace safety regulation.
- Estimated time: 60-90 minutes for a single session, or about 2 class periods with source analysis and discussion.