Title: A Stinking Smelly Sewer#117

National Standard: 17 How to apply geography to interpret the past.

State Standard: 15

Teaching Level: E

Objective/purpose: Students will create a timeline of events that occurred in the Nashua River Valley as presented in the book, A River Ran Wild.

Materials: yarn or string, a pack of 5" x 7" index cards, A River Ran Wild,

Procedure:
1)Divide class into groups of three. Distribute two index cards to each student.
2)Assuming the students have already heard the story, show the students a selection of pictures from the book that show the land use and the river use during different periods of time (suggested time periods may include early 1600's, late 1600's, 1700's, 1800's, 1900-1962, present day). If using the suggested time periods, one member of each group is responsible to write a description of the pictures on the index cards, so that each group has a description of the land use shown during each time period.
3)Have the group members lay a piece of yarn on the floor or tape it to the wall. Ask them to place their index card on the appropriate position on the timeline yarn.
4)Based on the information written on the index cards ask the students to write a letter to a friend in another class that explains what happened to the geography of the Nashua River Valley over the period of time described in their timeline.

Evaluation/Assessment: Appropriately sequenced timeline. Friendly letter written by student.

Extension/Enrichment: Ask students to predict events that might occur in the future that will effect the Nashua River Valley.

Reflection: How successful was this lesson? Did all students benefit? Were there any surprises? What might you do differently another time? Please note any changes that will make this lesson more effective and useful in the future and pass them along to the NHGA. We appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
The authors.

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Original file name: 117rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:55