Illinois & Michigan Canal
Sesquicentennial Virtual Web Teacher Workshop
Notes to the teacher:
It is important for students that live in the counties that surround the Illinois and Michigan Canal as well as students in other parts of the State of Illinois to understand the significance of the Canal to the development and growth of the northeastern Illinois. Inversely, it is important to understand how this portion of the state was formed before focusing on the Canal itself.
The lessons on the Illinois & Michigan Canal that follow are quite detailed so that they can be used by first year teachers as well as veteran teachers. Each lesson specifies which of the Illinois State Goals, five themes of geography and national standards for geography apply to the lesson. Each lesson will also include an overview, objectives, a listing of any of the materials needed, and any pertinent information on classroom management.
Lessons are written for grades 7-10 with adaptations for grade 4 and 5 in which Illinois and United States geography might be a focus. Special information and ideas for assessment and extension of the lessons are included. Masters of student worksheets, student readings, assignment and evaluation sheets, and maps are furnished with each lesson so that it is complete and ready to use.
Lessons are linked through hot links that can be distinguished because they are underlined and will be of a different color than the rest of the text. Hot links will take you directly to student pages, maps, photographs/graphics, and other sites that relate directly to what you are teaching. The back arrow at the top of the page will return you to the page you just left. There also may be other choices. These will be at the end of the page/pages and hot linked so they will take you directly to that document.
A few of the lessons have been adapted from other professional sources. When adapted, credit is given and the source is listed in case the teacher would like to refer back to the original material. Most lessons were developed based on maps, illustrations and materials available in educational books and pamphlets that many federal and state agencies provide free or at little cost for classroom use. A list of sources/resources are listed with each lesson plan. Internet sites that relate directly to the lesson will also be listed separately.
The lesson plans presented offer a way to infuse more geography into social studies classes. There is a heavy emphasis on writing skills so that the activities and assessments complement the requirement for more writing activities in all subject areas.
Teachers may adapt these lessons on the Illinois & Michigan Canal to their particular needs and curriculum. The most logical place to use them would be in seventh/eighth grades or high school classes before/during/after the study of the local region/the State Constitution/the State of Illinois/ westward movement. When studying Illinois history in the fourth grade and the United States in the fifth grade, these lessons can serve as a bridge to study the local community. However you choose to implement the lessons, have fun using geography to help your students develop a better understanding of the world in which they live.