A Train Tour of the Northeast
Essential Question: What are different parts of the Northeast like?
Overview
Students take a “train tour” to learn about the Northeast region of the United States. In the Preview activity, a Geography Challenge introduces students to the Northeast. Then, in a Writing for Understanding activity, groups of students sit on a “train” and listen to a tour guide while they view images of places in the Northeast. Through interactive experiences, students learn key concepts and facts about the Northeast. In Reading Further, students discover why Lowell, Massachusetts, was important to the economy of the Northeast and what life was like for factory workers there. Students conclude by writing a letter describing what they have seen on their tour. The writing activity serves as the Processing assignment for the chapter.
Objectives
Social Studies
• Categorize key elements of the economy, geography, government, history, and people of the Northeast.
• Use a map of the region to trace the route of a tour through the Northeast.
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of democracy, mass production, and laws.
• Analyze working conditions in the textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Language Arts
• Gather information from an audio tour. (listening)
• Synthesize information into letter form. (writing)
• Conduct an interview. (speaking and listening)
Social Studies Vocabulary peak, American Revolution, canal, lock, skyscraper, mass production, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, mill, wage
Essential Question: What are different parts of the Northeast like?
Overview
Students take a “train tour” to learn about the Northeast region of the United States. In the Preview activity, a Geography Challenge introduces students to the Northeast. Then, in a Writing for Understanding activity, groups of students sit on a “train” and listen to a tour guide while they view images of places in the Northeast. Through interactive experiences, students learn key concepts and facts about the Northeast. In Reading Further, students discover why Lowell, Massachusetts, was important to the economy of the Northeast and what life was like for factory workers there. Students conclude by writing a letter describing what they have seen on their tour. The writing activity serves as the Processing assignment for the chapter.
Objectives
Social Studies
• Categorize key elements of the economy, geography, government, history, and people of the Northeast.
• Use a map of the region to trace the route of a tour through the Northeast.
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of democracy, mass production, and laws.
• Analyze working conditions in the textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Language Arts
• Gather information from an audio tour. (listening)
• Synthesize information into letter form. (writing)
• Conduct an interview. (speaking and listening)
Social Studies Vocabulary peak, American Revolution, canal, lock, skyscraper, mass production, Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, mill, wage