Participant Name(s): Matthew Wiers

The Last Great Canal Curriculum Project
Unit/Lesson Title: Transportation’s affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States
Intended Grade Level: 8^th Grade U.S. History	Approximate length: 1-2 days
Applicable Standards: California History- Social Science Content Standards 8.6.1-3 5 Themes of Geography – Location, Movement
Goals/Objectives: Students will identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) Students will understand how transportation affects where cities develop in the Northeast, Midwest, and locally (California) Students will understand the correlation between transportation and the growth of cities (on waterways, railroads, freeways). As a case study, students will examine Chicago’s growth because of the I & M Canal. Students will use the internet to investigate the history and importance of the I & M Canal and also how California cities grew.
Procedures Ask students, “How did people travel in the U.S. in the early 1800’s?” (on foot, horseback, carriage, boat) List their responses on the board. Ask, “which method of travel would be the easiest and fastest for a single person?” (on horseback) “And for cargo?” (by boat) “How does this affect where cities develop?” (major cities develop on water – New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, etc) Place Map A – Base Map on Overhead projector, then Map B – Principle Towns in 1840. “What do nearly all the major cities have in common?” (water) “Can you predict what will happen by 1860?” (cities grow larger, move further west) Place Map C – Principle Towns in 1860 on the overhead. “What has changed in 20 years?” (cities grow, new cities develop out west) Place Map E – Principle Towns in 1890 on the overhead “What city grew the most in the last 20 years?” (Chicago) “Why?” (answers may vary, the I & M Canal, arrival of railroads, etc.) “We have examined how cities grew in the Northeast and Midwest in the 1800’s, but what about here, in California?” “Follow the directions carefully for this computer lab assignment” (Students will work on the attached internet worksheet, which examines the growth of U.S. cities, a brief look at the history and importance of the I & M Canal, and also how California cities grew and developed.)
Materials (handouts, worksheets, equipment, etc.) “The Canal Shapes History” Maps (A-E) Internet Worksheet (attached) Selected Websites:
Resources (traditional & electronic) Overhead projector Internet-ready computer lab
Assessment(s) Internet Worksheet Quiz and Chapter Test
Name:__________________ TRANSPORTATION AND GROWTH OF CITIES COMPUTER LAB ASSIGNMENT Go to the following websites to investigate the history of the I & M Canal, the growth of Chicago, and the origins of cities in California. Type your answers on this document and save it to the appropriate file. Go to http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html Under Detailed Tables Click on the Population of Urban places beginning in 1840 through 1900. Where does Chicago rank on these lists? 1840 – 1850 – 1860 – 1870 – 1880 – 1900 – Why do you think Chicago grew so rapidly? What is the first California city to appear on the list? What city moves past it on the list? When does this happen? Go to http://www.canalcor.org/CCA2005/history.html Click on “Building the Canal”. Who did much of the work digging the canal? What were some major obstacles they faced? When was the canal completed? Click on “Canal Significance”. List four reasons why the I & M Canal was important. Why do you think the I & M Canal is significant today? Go to http://imcanal.lewisu.edu/index.htm Find three photos of the I & M Canal and describe what they show in two sentences for each. Go to http://www.worldbookonline.com/ Search for the history of Los Angeles. What led to LA’s development and growth? Search for the history of San Francisco. Why did San Francisco grow so quickly? Search for the history of San Diego. Why did people originally settle there? Write a paragraph answering the following question. What do you think is the most important factor contributing to the growth and success of a city? Give specific examples to support your answer.