Illustration of molasses breaking through a building down the city streets in the 1920s
Illustration by Jeff Brown
Narrative Nonfiction,

The Killer Wave

More than a century ago, a strange and terrible disaster struck Boston: A giant wave of molasses crashed through a crowded neighborhood, destroying everything in its path.

By Lauren Tarshis
From the February 2023 Issue

Learning Objective: to explore key ideas and details in a work of narrative nonfiction

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    Readers learn about the molasses disaster that struck Boston in 1919.
  • Structure
    The article weaves together narrative and informational passages. Text features include photos and primary documents.
  • Vocabulary
    Contains higher-level vocabulary such as comprehensive, distillation, hastily, imminent, laden, liable, rivets, and shoddily.
  • Knowledge Demands
    The article refers to Boston, Italy, World War I, Europe, Germany, the influenza pandemic of 1918, and lawsuits.
Lexiles: 970L, 820L
Featured Skill: Key Ideas and Details,
Other Key Skills: setting, literary devices, descriptive language, mood, inference
Common Core Standards
  • R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.5, R.7, W.2, SL.1, L.4, L.5, L.6
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, RI.6.4, RI.6.5, W.6.2, SL.6.1, SL.6.2, L.6.4, L.6.5, L.6.6
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, RI.7.4, RI.7.5, RI.7.8, W.7.2, SL.7.1, SL.7.2, L.7.4, L.7.5, L.7.6
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, RI.8.4, RI.8.5, W.8.2, SL.8.1, SL.8.2, L.8.4, L.8.5, L.8.6
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j (grade 8 only) 8d, 8f, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12i, 12j

Presentation View
See Student View

Lexile® measure

  • 970L
  • 820L
Download and Print
Reading Level (820L)
Spanish-Language Version

Want to hear this story read aloud? Click here!

Want to hear this story read aloud? Click here!

AS YOU READ

Think about what caused the Great Molasses Flood.

It was a bright January day in 1919 as young Anthony di Stasio hurried along a crowded sidewalk in Boston’s North End. As usual, the streets were jammed with honking motorcars and clattering horse-drawn wagons. After weeks of freezing cold, the temperature had risen to 40 degrees. Anthony’s tattered wool coat flapped open as he hurried toward the tiny apartment where he lived with his parents and four sisters. 

Like most of the people who lived in this Boston neighborhood, Anthony’s family had come from southern Italy, eager to start a new and better life in America. What they found was hardship. Anthony’s father worked long hours on the waterfront. Anthony’s mother struggled to transform their small apartment into a comfortable home—to chase away the cockroaches and cover up the stink of garbage and horse manure that wafted up from the streets. 

Indeed, life was tough for the people of the North End, and the previous two years had been especially challenging—not only for them, but for most Americans. World War I had been raging in Europe. Nearly 5 million Americans had joined the fight to defeat Germany. And during the final months of the war, another horror hit the world: the influenza pandemic of 1918. The virus killed 50 million people, including more than 600,000 Americans. 

Now, though, the war and the worst of the pandemic were over. Anthony might have sensed a mood of hopefulness on that sunny January day—the residents of Boston’s North End had every reason to believe that better times were just ahead. 

But something terrible was about to strike Anthony’s neighborhood. In fact, a deadly threat had been looming over the North End for years. It was not a German bomb or a deadly disease. 

It was a giant steel tank filled with molasses.

It was a bright January day in 1919 as young Anthony di Stasio hurried along a crowded sidewalk in Boston’s North End. As usual, the streets were jammed with honking motorcars and clattering horse-drawn wagons. After weeks of freezing cold, the temperature had risen to 40 degrees. Anthony’s tattered wool coat flapped open. He was heading toward the tiny apartment where he lived with his parents and four sisters. 

Like most of the people who lived in this Boston neighborhood, Anthony’s family had come from southern Italy. They had been eager to start a new and better life in America, but what they found was hardship. Anthony’s father worked long hours on the waterfront. Anthony’s mother struggled to make their small apartment a comfortable home. She tried to chase away the cockroaches and cover up the stink of garbage and horse manure that wafted up from the streets. 

Indeed, life was tough for the people of the North End. The previous two years had been especially challenging—not only for them, but for most Americans. World War I had been raging in Europe. Nearly 5 million Americans had joined the fight to defeat Germany. And during the final months of the war, another horror hit the world: the influenza pandemic of 1918. The virus killed 50 million people, including more than 600,000 Americans. 

Now, though, the war was over. And so was the worst of the pandemic. Anthony might have sensed a mood of hopefulness on that sunny January day. The residents of Boston’s North End had every reason to believe that better times were just ahead. 

But something terrible was about to strike Anthony’s neighborhood. In fact, a deadly threat had been looming over the North End for years. But it was not a German bomb or a deadly disease. It was a giant steel tank filled with molasses.

Shutterstock.com (molasses, sugar cane); Ana Casanova/Getty images (jar)

Molasses and sugar come from the same plant: sugarcane (top).

From Pies to Bombs

From Pies to Bombs

Molasses is a thick brown syrup that was once the most popular sweetener in America. Like white sugar, molasses comes from the sugarcane plant, which grows in the Caribbean and other hot and humid regions. 

Until the late 1800s, sugar was expensive and only the wealthy could afford to purchase it. Molasses was the cheap alternative. So despite its bitter taste, it was molasses that sweetened early Americans’ favorite treats, like pumpkin pie, cornbread, and gingerbread cookies. 

By the early 1900s, sugar prices had dropped, and most Americans no longer sweetened their foods with molasses. The sticky brown syrup was then put to a surprising new use: making bombs. 

Through a process called distillation, molasses can be turned into industrial alcohol, which became a key ingredient in the dynamite and other explosives used in World War I. Throughout the war, ships laden with millions of gallons of molasses arrived at Boston’s ports. Trains then transported the gooey cargo to distilleries, where it was turned into industrial alcohol. 

In 1914, the leaders of one company, United States Industrial Alcohol (USIA), decided to build a molasses storage tank near Boston Harbor. The tank was enormous. At 50 feet tall, it was bigger than any other tank ever built in Boston. As if the North End weren’t already grim enough, now a five-story steel tank towered over the neighborhood, blotting out the sun and blocking the view of the harbor. 

It wasn’t merely the tank’s unsightliness that upset the residents of the North End though. The tank was constructed hastily, and just a few hours after it was first filled with molasses, brown syrup began leaking from the seams, oozing like blood from invisible wounds. Every time the tank was refilled, it rumbled and groaned, as though its steel walls were crying out in pain. Children would fill cups with the molasses dripping from its cracks. 

People living near the tank worried it was unsafe. But what could they do about it? USIA was a big company, and the people of the North End were poor and powerless. In the early 20th century, many Americans viewed immigrants with suspicion and prejudice. Even a person bold enough to complain about the tank would have had a hard time finding someone willing to listen and help. Indeed, in 1917, one man brought steel shards that had broken off from the tank to USIA’s offices as evidence of imminent catastrophe—and he was brushed off.

And so the years passed. The molasses kept leaking and the noises of the straining steel grew louder and louder—until January 15, 1919, just as young Anthony di Stasio was making his way home.

Molasses is a thick brown syrup that was once the most popular sweetener in America. Like white sugar, molasses comes from the sugarcane plant. Sugarcane grows in the Caribbean and other hot and humid regions. 

Until the late 1800s, sugar was expensive. Only the wealthy could afford to buy it. Molasses was cheaper. So most Americans sweetened their favorite treats, like pumpkin pie, cornbread, and gingerbread cookies with molasses—even though it has a bitter taste. 

By the early 1900s, sugar prices had dropped. Most Americans no longer sweetened their foods with molasses. But the sticky brown syrup was being used in a new way: making bombs. 

A process called distillation can turn molasses into industrial alcohol. Molasses became a key ingredient in the dynamite and other explosives used in World War I. Throughout the war, ships laden with millions of gallons of molasses arrived at Boston’s ports. Trains then transported the gooey cargo to distilleries. Then it was turned into industrial alcohol. 

United States Industrial Alcohol (USIA) was a company that made industrial alcohol. In 1914, it built a molasses storage tank near Boston Harbor. The tank was enormous. It was 50 feet tall, bigger than any other tank ever built in Boston. As if the North End weren’t already grim enough, now a five-story steel tank blotted out the sun and blocked the view of the harbor. 

The residents of the North End weren’t just upset that the tank was ugly. It was also hastily built. Only a few hours after it was first filled with molasses, brown syrup began leaking from the seams. It oozed like blood from invisible wounds. Every time the tank was refilled, it rumbled and groaned, as if crying out in pain. Children would fill cups with the molasses dripping from its cracks. 

People living near the tank worried it was unsafe. But what could they do about it? USIA was a big company. The people of the North End were poor and powerless. In the early 20th century, many Americans viewed immigrants with suspicion and prejudice. Finding someone willing to listen and do something about the tank would have been difficult. Indeed, in 1917, one man brought steel shards that had broken off from the tank to USIA’s offices as evidence of imminent catastrophe. But he was brushed off.

And so the years passed. The molasses kept leaking and the noises of the straining steel grew louder—until January 15, 1919, just as young Anthony di Stasio was making his way home.

The Boston Globe via Getty Images (North End); FLHC26/Alamy Stock Photo (headline)

Boston’s North End after 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst from a storage tank like lava from a volcano. The next day, The Boston Post reported on the disaster (bottom). In the coming days, the number of known victims increased sharply.

A Violent Swirl

A Violent Swirl

It started with a strange sound: 

Rat, tat, tat, tat,

Rat, tat, tat, tat,

Rat, tat, tat, tat. 

This was the sound of thousands of steel rivets popping out of place. After years of strain, the molasses tank was breaking apart. Next came a thundering explosion.

“Run!” a man screamed. “It’s the tank!”

Anthony looked up just as the tank cracked apart like a massive egg, unleashing 2.3 million gallons of thick, sticky molasses. The molasses formed a colossal brown wave—25 feet high at first, and traveling at a staggering 35 miles per hour. The dark syrup was far heavier and more destructive than a wave of ocean water, and it moved with incredible power. 

Within seconds, the suffocating goo had crushed a number of wooden houses and flattened a three-story fire station. It swept away motorcars and snapped electrical poles. The support beams beneath the elevated railway collapsed, “as if by the smash of a giant’s fist,” as one journalist later wrote. 

The violent swirl quickly caught Anthony, along with dozens of others. The wave pulled Anthony under, molasses gushing into his mouth. It carried him for several blocks until he crashed into a metal lamppost—hard. Spotting Anthony pinned against the lamppost, a firefighter rushed through waist-deep molasses and grabbed the young boy just before he was carried away.

The firefighter held Anthony’s limp body and looked at his molasses-coated face. The poor child, he believed, had not survived. 

By the time the wave lost its power, half a mile of the North End was in shambles. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, nurses, and sailors from ships docked in the harbor rushed to the scene. They freed people trapped under collapsed buildings and tangled in molasses-soaked debris. Plain water did little to wash away the sticky syrup, so firefighters used salty ocean water to scour the hardening molasses off of the streets. In the end, 21 people were killed and 150 were injured.

It started with a strange sound: 

Rat, tat, tat, tat,

Rat, tat, tat, tat,

Rat, tat, tat, tat.

Thousands of steel rivets were popping out of place. After years of strain, the molasses tank was breaking apart. Next came a thundering explosion.

“Run!” a man screamed. “It’s the tank!”

Anthony looked up just as the tank cracked apart like a massive egg, unleashing 2.3 million gallons of thick, sticky molasses. The molasses formed a colossal brown wave—25 feet high at first. It traveled at a staggering 35 miles per hour. The dark syrup was far heavier and more destructive than an ocean’s wave. And it moved with incredible power. 

Within seconds, the suffocating goo had crushed a number of wooden houses and flattened a three-story fire station. It swept away motorcars and snapped electrical poles. The support beams beneath the elevated railway collapsed, “as if by the smash of a giant’s fist,” as one journalist later wrote. 

The violent swirl quickly caught Anthony, along with dozens of others. The wave pulled Anthony under. Molasses gushed into his mouth. It carried him for several blocks until he crashed into a metal lamppost—hard. A firefighter spotted Anthony pinned against the lamppost. The firefighter rushed through waist-deep molasses and grabbed the young boy.

The firefighter held Anthony’s limp body and looked at his molasses-coated face. The poor child, he believed, had not survived. 

By the time the wave lost its power, half a mile of the North End was in shambles. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, nurses, and sailors from ships docked in the harbor rushed to the scene. They freed people trapped under collapsed buildings and tangled in molasses-soaked debris. Plain water did little to wash away the sticky syrup. So firefighters used salty ocean water to scour the molasses off of the streets. In the end, 21 people were killed and 150 were injured. 

Boston Public Library (rescuers); The Boston Globe via Getty Images (ambulance)

In the hours after the molasses tank exploded, rescuers waded through rivers of goo to reach the injured. For months, the North End stank of molasses.

A History-Making Trial

A History-Making Trial

Within hours of the explosion, USIA representatives were insisting that the disaster was not their fault. Their tank, they claimed, had been bombed by “criminals.” But few believed this explanation. 

In the following weeks, experts sifted through the wreckage, inspecting the remains of the tank. They spoke to residents who had seen the leaks and heard the strange noises. The experts’ conclusion: The tank had been shoddily built, and the leaders at USIA had known it. 

Still, USIA refused to take responsibility for the disaster, and at first it seemed the company would not be held accountable. But the victims persisted in their demand for justice, filing about 120 lawsuits against USIA. Eventually, these lawsuits were combined into a single lawsuit and the case went to trial. 

More than 1,000 people testified throughout the trial—including technical experts, such as engineers and architects, who explained why the tank might have broken apart. It was one of the first trials in history to incorporate expert testimony, which is now a standard practice. These experts confirmed what the residents of the North End had suspected. 

Still, the trial dragged on for years. Finally, in 1925, USIA was found liable. It was forced to pay $628,000—equal to more than $10 million today. For the residents of the North End, it was a major victory. 

The trial also led to important changes that have made the entire country safer. For many construction projects before the disaster, no one had to submit building plans or allow inspectors to come to construction sites to ensure that work was being done properly and safely. But because of the trial—and the victims’ determination—that all changed. 

The ruling led to Massachusetts’s first comprehensive building codes, a set of rules to follow when constructing homes, buildings, and other structures. These codes were later adopted in cities and states across the country. Many of the standards in place today are a result of the molasses flood.

Within hours of the explosion, USIA representatives were insisting that the disaster was not their fault. Their tank, they claimed, had been bombed by “criminals.” But few believed them. 

In the following weeks, experts went through the wreckage. They inspected the remains of the tank. They spoke to residents who had seen the leaks and heard the strange noises. The experts’ conclusion: The tank had been shoddily built, and the leaders at USIA had known it.

Still, USIA refused to take responsibility for the disaster. At first, it seemed the company would not be held accountable. But the victims demanded justice, filing about 120 lawsuits against USIA. Eventually, these lawsuits were combined into a single lawsuit and the case went to trial. 

More than 1,000 people testified in the trial. Technical experts, such as engineers and architects, explained why the tank might have broken apart. It was one of the first trials in history to use expert testimony. Now it’s a standard practice. These experts confirmed what the residents of the North End had suspected. 

Still, the trial dragged on for years. Finally, in 1925, USIA was found liable. It was forced to pay $628,000—equal to more than $10 million today. For the residents of the North End, it was a major victory. 

The trial also led to important changes that have made the entire country safer. Before the disaster, builders did not have to submit building plans for many projects. They did not have to allow inspectors on construction sites to check that the work was being done properly. But because of the trial—and the victims’ determination—that all changed. 

The ruling led to Massachusetts’s first comprehensive building codes, a set of rules to follow when constructing homes, buildings, and other structures. These codes were later adopted in cities and states across the country. Many of the standards in place today are a result of the molasses flood.

QRS/Alamy Stock Photo

Today Boston’s North End is a bustling destination for food and history lovers. Home to many Italian restaurants and bakeries, the neighborhood’s landmarks include important sites from the American Revolution. Over time, however, the molasses flood has mostly been forgotten. One of the few reminders is a plaque in a North End park. But on hot days, it’s said that the sweet scent of molasses still rises up like a ghost.

The Strangest Disaster

The Strangest Disaster

QRS/Alamy Stock Photo

At the time of the molasses flood, there were many different accounts of the size of the molasses wave. This plaque describes the wave as being 40 feet high. Today we know it was more like 25 feet.

It took years for the North End to rebuild. But somehow, over the decades, this disaster has been largely forgotten. Indeed, few have ever heard of the Molasses Flood of 1919, its impact on history, and the incredible stories from that day—like the story of Anthony di Stasio. 

The young boy’s limp, molasses-soaked body was taken to a large building being used to store the bodies of those who had died. He was covered with a sheet. 

But Anthony wasn’t dead—only unconscious. 

Hours later, he woke to the sound of his mother’s voice calling him. He tried to answer, but his mouth was filled with molasses. Suddenly, he sat up. And soon his family was surrounding him, a lucky survivor of one of the strangest disasters in American history.

It took years for the North End to rebuild. But somehow, over the decades, this disaster has been largely forgotten. Indeed, few have ever heard of the Molasses Flood of 1919, its impact on history, and the incredible stories from that day—like the story of Anthony di Stasio. 

The young boy’s limp, molasses-soaked body was taken to a large building used to store the bodies of those who had died. He was covered with a sheet. 

But Anthony wasn’t dead—only unconscious. 

Hours later, he woke to the sound of his mother’s voice calling him. He tried to answer, but his mouth was filled with molasses. Suddenly, he sat up. And soon his family was surrounding him. 

Anthony was a lucky survivor of one of the strangest disasters in American history.

Copyright ©2022 Lauren Tarshis

Copyright ©2022 Lauren Tarshis

Writing Prompt

In a short essay, analyze the impact the molasses flood had on Boston’s North End—and on America. Use text evidence to support your answers. 

Writing Prompt

In a short essay, analyze the impact the molasses flood had on Boston’s North End—and on America. Use text evidence to support your answers. 

This article was originally published in the February 2023 issue.

This article was originally published in the February 2023 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (15)
Core Skills Workout
  • The Core Skills Workout is a series of skill-based activities that will help your students "bulk up" in the comprehension skills they need most to become strong, analytical readers. The Core Skills Workout comes with every issue and will support your reading program no matter what your scope and sequence.
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
The Core Skills Workout
Writing Support
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Audio ()
Activities (15)
Core Skills Workout
  • The Core Skills Workout is a series of skill-based activities that will help your students "bulk up" in the comprehension skills they need most to become strong, analytical readers. The Core Skills Workout comes with every issue and will support your reading program no matter what your scope and sequence.
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
The Core Skills Workout
Writing Support
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Connected Reading

5. Support for Multilingual Learners

Essential questions: Why is it important to learn about disasters from the past? Why are laws important? What is justice?

Essential questions: Why is it important to learn about disasters from the past? Why are laws important? What is justice?

1. PREPARING TO READ (15 MINUTES)

Do-Now: Solve a riddle (5 minutes)

  • Project the riddle below on your whiteboard:

I’m tropical.

I’ve been grown and used by humans since ancient times.

Boil me and I turn into sweet crystals.

Boiled again, I turn into a sticky syrup called molasses.

Boiled again, I’m used to make dynamite and other explosives.

What am I?

The answer is sugarcane, a tropical grass used to make sugar and molasses. (For those unfamiliar with molasses, you might mention that it is used in desserts like gingerbread.) Tell students that today they will read about a strange and terrible molasses disaster that struck Boston more than a century ago. 

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • Project the Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice. Review the definitions as a class. Highlighted words: comprehensive, distillation, hastily, imminent, laden, liable, rivets, shoddily. Optionally, print or share the interactive link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity before class. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud are embedded in the interactive slides.

Do-Now: Solve a riddle (5 minutes)

  • Project the riddle below on your whiteboard:

I’m tropical.

I’ve been grown and used by humans since ancient times.

Boil me and I turn into sweet crystals.

Boiled again, I turn into a sticky syrup called molasses.

Boiled again, I’m used to make dynamite and other explosives.

What am I?

The answer is sugarcane, a tropical grass used to make sugar and molasses. (For those unfamiliar with molasses, you might mention that it is used in desserts like gingerbread.) Tell students that today they will read about a strange and terrible molasses disaster that struck Boston more than a century ago. 

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • Project the Vocabulary: Definitions and Practice. Review the definitions as a class. Highlighted words: comprehensive, distillation, hastily, imminent, laden, liable, rivets, shoddily. Optionally, print or share the interactive link directly to your LMS and have students preview the words and complete the activity before class. Audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud are embedded in the interactive slides.

2. READING AND DISCUSSING (45 MINUTES)

  • Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 6 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.
  • Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish version of the article.) Optionally, bring students into the action of the story with our new Immersive Read-Aloud, in which they hear the story accompanied by music and sound effects. The Immersive Read-Aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View. 
  • Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following close-reading questions.

Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)

  • In the introduction, what is the purpose of the information about World War I and the influenza pandemic? (setting) This information puts the molasses disaster in historical context. It tells what the people of the North End had gone through in the recent past and helps the reader understand their emotions. It also evokes the reader’s sympathy and makes the molasses disaster seem all the more tragic.
  • What aspects of the giant molasses tank bothered residents of the North End? Why did some people decide not to complain? (key ideas and details) Residents were bothered by the fact that the tank was ugly, blocked light, made rumbling noises, and leaked. Some residents didn’t complain because they felt powerless against the giant company that owned the tank, USIA. Also, many people mistrusted immigrants at the time; some residents thought that no one would listen to them if they complained.
  • What effect does the repetition of “Rat, tat, tat, tat” at the start of the section “A Violent Swirl” create? (literary devices) The repetition of  “Rat, tat, tat, tat” builds suspense and creates a feeling of impending doom. The reader knows something terrible is coming.
  • How does author Lauren Tarshis describe the wave of molasses? What mood does she create? (descriptive language; mood) Author Lauren Tarshis uses vivid descriptive language. She writes that the molasses wave was more destructive than a wave of ocean water. She uses words and phrases like “violent swirl,” “staggering,” and “colossal” to suggest the size and speed of the wave. She shows the wave’s destructive power by listing the things it wrecked—a three-story fire station, houses, cars. The mood could be described as terrifying, urgent, or panicky.
  • Referring to the trial, the author writes, “For the residents of the North End, it was a major victory.” Why was the trial a “major victory”? (inference) The immigrants who lived in the North End had little influence and few resources to fight a big company like USIA. Before the explosion, they felt powerless. Yet they managed to fight for and get justice during the trial. Their victory gave them power.
  • How did the Boston Molasses Flood lead to important changes that make us safer today? (key ideas and details) Because of the trial’s ruling, comprehensive building codes were passed in Massachusetts and then adopted in cities and states across the country. These codes are rules that must be followed when constructing homes, buildings, or other structures to ensure that the work is done properly and safely. 

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

  • How might the 1919 disaster in Boston have been prevented? It seems like the disaster could have been prevented quite easily. It was common knowledge that the molasses tank was poorly constructed. It leaked, shards broke off, and it made strange noises for years before it fell apart. If the tank had been properly built and maintained, the spill likely never would have happened.
  • What lessons can be learned from the Boston Molasses Flood? Students may offer that this story shows the consequences of putting business interests over people, and of rushing or cutting corners when building something. It also reminds us that our legal system can and should hold businesses accountable for their actions. 
  • Why is it important to learn about historical disasters like the Boston Molasses Flood? Answers will vary. Students may say that learning about the Boston Molasses Flood and other historical disasters provides valuable information that influences our practices and policies today. 

  • Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 6 of the magazine or at the top of the digital story page.
  • Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish version of the article.) Optionally, bring students into the action of the story with our new Immersive Read-Aloud, in which they hear the story accompanied by music and sound effects. The Immersive Read-Aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View. 
  • Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following close-reading questions.

Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)

  • In the introduction, what is the purpose of the information about World War I and the influenza pandemic? (setting) This information puts the molasses disaster in historical context. It tells what the people of the North End had gone through in the recent past and helps the reader understand their emotions. It also evokes the reader’s sympathy and makes the molasses disaster seem all the more tragic.
  • What aspects of the giant molasses tank bothered residents of the North End? Why did some people decide not to complain? (key ideas and details) Residents were bothered by the fact that the tank was ugly, blocked light, made rumbling noises, and leaked. Some residents didn’t complain because they felt powerless against the giant company that owned the tank, USIA. Also, many people mistrusted immigrants at the time; some residents thought that no one would listen to them if they complained.
  • What effect does the repetition of “Rat, tat, tat, tat” at the start of the section “A Violent Swirl” create? (literary devices) The repetition of  “Rat, tat, tat, tat” builds suspense and creates a feeling of impending doom. The reader knows something terrible is coming.
  • How does author Lauren Tarshis describe the wave of molasses? What mood does she create? (descriptive language; mood) Author Lauren Tarshis uses vivid descriptive language. She writes that the molasses wave was more destructive than a wave of ocean water. She uses words and phrases like “violent swirl,” “staggering,” and “colossal” to suggest the size and speed of the wave. She shows the wave’s destructive power by listing the things it wrecked—a three-story fire station, houses, cars. The mood could be described as terrifying, urgent, or panicky.
  • Referring to the trial, the author writes, “For the residents of the North End, it was a major victory.” Why was the trial a “major victory”? (inference) The immigrants who lived in the North End had little influence and few resources to fight a big company like USIA. Before the explosion, they felt powerless. Yet they managed to fight for and get justice during the trial. Their victory gave them power.
  • How did the Boston Molasses Flood lead to important changes that make us safer today? (key ideas and details) Because of the trial’s ruling, comprehensive building codes were passed in Massachusetts and then adopted in cities and states across the country. These codes are rules that must be followed when constructing homes, buildings, or other structures to ensure that the work is done properly and safely. 

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

  • How might the 1919 disaster in Boston have been prevented? It seems like the disaster could have been prevented quite easily. It was common knowledge that the molasses tank was poorly constructed. It leaked, shards broke off, and it made strange noises for years before it fell apart. If the tank had been properly built and maintained, the spill likely never would have happened.
  • What lessons can be learned from the Boston Molasses Flood? Students may offer that this story shows the consequences of putting business interests over people, and of rushing or cutting corners when building something. It also reminds us that our legal system can and should hold businesses accountable for their actions. 
  • Why is it important to learn about historical disasters like the Boston Molasses Flood? Answers will vary. Students may say that learning about the Boston Molasses Flood and other historical disasters provides valuable information that influences our practices and policies today. 

3. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING (30 MINUTES)

  • Have students complete the Writing Planner: The Boston Molasses Flood. This activity will help them organize their ideas in preparation for the activity on page 9 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page. 
  • Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.

  • Have students complete the Writing Planner: The Boston Molasses Flood. This activity will help them organize their ideas in preparation for the activity on page 9 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page. 
  • Alternatively, have students choose a culminating task from the Choice Board, a menu of differentiated activities.

4. CONNECTED READING

5. SUPPORT FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS

These questions are designed to help students respond to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Ask students to demonstrate comprehension with a very simple answer.

  1. Were most residents of the North End immigrants? Yes, they were.
  2. Was the molasses tank built well? No, it wasn’t.
  3. Were people living near the tank worried that it was unsafe? Yes, they were. 
  4. Did USIA accept responsibility for the disaster? No, it didn’t.
  5. Are buildings today safer than they were in 1919? Yes, they are.

Either/Or Questions

Encourage students to use language from the question in their answer.

  1. Was the North End neighborhood home to poor residents or wealthy residents? The North End was home to poor residents. 
  2. Did USIA build the molasses tank slowly or in a hurry? USIA built the molasses tank in a hurry.
  3. Did USIA listen to people’s concerns about the tank or ignore them? USIA ignored people’s concerns about the tank. 
  4. Can USIA’s actions be described as responsible or irresponsible? USIA’s actions can be described as irresponsible. 
  5. Was the North End destroyed forever or was it rebuilt? The North End was rebuilt.

Short-Answer Questions

Challenge students to produce simple answers on their own.

  1. What happened to USIA as a result of the lawsuit? USIA was found responsible for the disaster and was forced to pay $628,000. 
  2. What changes happened in Boston and across the country as a result of the lawsuit? There are now rules to follow when constructing buildings and other structures to ensure things are done properly and safely.

Language-Acquisition Springboard: Descriptive Language

After reading the article, point out some of the vivid language the author uses to describe the molasses tank and the flood. Ask students to describe what they see in their mind’s eye when they read these phrases. Sample questions below. 

  • Tarshis writes, “Every time the tank was refilled, it rumbled and groaned, as though its steel walls were crying out in pain.” What do the words “groaning” and “crying out” make you think of? (a person who is sick or injured) Why do you think the author compares the molasses tank to a sick or injured person? (to emphasize that the tank was in bad condition and making noises that alerted everyone to its worsening condition)
  • Tarshis writes, “The molasses formed a colossal brown wave—25 feet high at first, and traveling at a staggering 35 miles per hour.” What comes to mind when you hear “wave”? (an ocean; the sea) Why do you think the author uses this word to describe the molasses? (to show its great size and power)

These questions are designed to help students respond to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Ask students to demonstrate comprehension with a very simple answer.

  1. Were most residents of the North End immigrants? Yes, they were.
  2. Was the molasses tank built well? No, it wasn’t.
  3. Were people living near the tank worried that it was unsafe? Yes, they were. 
  4. Did USIA accept responsibility for the disaster? No, it didn’t.
  5. Are buildings today safer than they were in 1919? Yes, they are.

Either/Or Questions

Encourage students to use language from the question in their answer.

  1. Was the North End neighborhood home to poor residents or wealthy residents? The North End was home to poor residents. 
  2. Did USIA build the molasses tank slowly or in a hurry? USIA built the molasses tank in a hurry.
  3. Did USIA listen to people’s concerns about the tank or ignore them? USIA ignored people’s concerns about the tank. 
  4. Can USIA’s actions be described as responsible or irresponsible? USIA’s actions can be described as irresponsible. 
  5. Was the North End destroyed forever or was it rebuilt? The North End was rebuilt.

Short-Answer Questions

Challenge students to produce simple answers on their own.

  1. What happened to USIA as a result of the lawsuit? USIA was found responsible for the disaster and was forced to pay $628,000. 
  2. What changes happened in Boston and across the country as a result of the lawsuit? There are now rules to follow when constructing buildings and other structures to ensure things are done properly and safely.

Language-Acquisition Springboard: Descriptive Language

After reading the article, point out some of the vivid language the author uses to describe the molasses tank and the flood. Ask students to describe what they see in their mind’s eye when they read these phrases. Sample questions below. 

  • Tarshis writes, “Every time the tank was refilled, it rumbled and groaned, as though its steel walls were crying out in pain.” What do the words “groaning” and “crying out” make you think of? (a person who is sick or injured) Why do you think the author compares the molasses tank to a sick or injured person? (to emphasize that the tank was in bad condition and making noises that alerted everyone to its worsening condition)
  • Tarshis writes, “The molasses formed a colossal brown wave—25 feet high at first, and traveling at a staggering 35 miles per hour.” What comes to mind when you hear “wave”? (an ocean; the sea) Why do you think the author uses this word to describe the molasses? (to show its great size and power)
Text-to-Speech