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Holly Snyder
Rose Stark
Margie Weise
Erie Canal Project
Summary
Chautauqua Lake Central
School
1. General Overview of the Proposed
Project:
Topic: Erie Canal
Integrate New York State History of the Erie
Canal using a variety of resources including music, literature,
textbook, guest speakers, field trip experience, and video.
Textbook: Sesso, Gloria and Chris Welles
Feder. The New York State Story. Austin: Steck-Vaughn
Company, 2002.
2. Clear Purpose and Objective:
The purpose of this project is to integrate
the New York State Learning standards in all subject areas to create
a diverse learning experience while studying the Erie Canal. The
intent is to supplement with a variety of multimedia and hands-on
resources to engage students in the study of this integral unit.
3. Stakeholders: grade level, who will
benefit, who will participate in this project.
All Chautauqua Lake fourth grade students will
benefit and participate in this project.
4. U.S. History Content Area
The grade 4 social studies program builds on
the students’ understanding of families, schools, and communities
and highlights the political institutions and historic development
of their local communities with connections to New York State and
the United States. The historic study of local communities focuses
on the social/cultural, political, and economic factors that helped
to shape these communities. Students study about the significant
people, places, events, and issues that influenced life in their
local communities.
The grade 4 program considers the following
themes and events at the local level as related to the Erie Canal:
the period of industrial growth and development in New York State.
5. Outline Describing Content
Connect local, New York State, and
United States history, focusing on the following themes:
• The Industrial Revolution
·
Transportation
·
Immigration
·
Geography
·
Historical Music of the time period
·
Building of the Erie Canal
·
Impact of the Erie Canal
·
Decline of the Erie Canal
·
Compare Erie Canal Past vs. Present
6. Software to be used, internet
materials, contacts, etc.
Long Distance Learning Lab-“The
Peppermint King and the Erie Canal” by New York State
Historical Association and the Farmer’s Museum
Blog Site as set by CLCS
United Streaming
40-minute concert program by Dave Ruch on the
Erie Canal geared to 4th grade (see attached email)
Grades 3-5 at CLCS
Classroom song-writing 30-minute session
(three sessions)
7. Level of Student Involvement
Students will be actively engaged in all the
levels of the Erie Canal unit. Students will participate in the
Long Distance Learning Lab, blog, concert program, and activities
throughout the unit.
8. Evaluation process (include students
when possible)
The effectiveness of the Erie Canal unit will
be based on teacher observation and student performance on
assessments and tasks. Students will be required to post at least
two blog entries, create a classroom song, take a written a test,
learn the Erie Canal song, actively participate in the Long Distance
Learning event, and attend the concert.
9. Timeline: how you envision the
project being carried out between start up and conclusion
January to Early February 2009:
Reserve Dave Ruch for CLCS Grades 3-5 concert. Book the Long
Distance Learning Lab for February 27, 2009
March 2009-All fourth grade teachers
will start an introduction to the Erie Canal unit in 4th
grade.
End of March-Beginning of April-Dave
Ruch concert and song writing sessions.
Teaching
American History Grant
Erie Canal
Project Performer and Teaching Artist, Dave Ruch
Fourth Grade Team: Holly Snyder, Rose Stark,
Margie Weise
Chautauqua Lake Central School
100 North Erie Street
Mayville, NY 14787
Mr. Dave Ruch, performer and teaching artist,
performed a concert for the Chautauqua Lake Central School students
in grades 3 thru 8 on May 21, 2009. The Teaching American History
Grant paid for the cost of this concert. Although the concert was
enjoyable for all who attended, the teachers learned knew and
interesting facts about the Erie Canal from Mr. Ruch’s music and
dialogue with the audience. He also inspired teachers to create
various methods of presenting material to students that is different
and exciting. His unique style demonstrated how a topic could be
taught in a format that is exciting and engaging.
After the concert, Mr. Ruch conducted three
individual songwriting sessions with each of the three fourth grade
sections. The fee for the songwriting sessions was also paid
through the Teaching American History Grant. The teachers were
amazed that a song could be written and performed within a small
time-frame of 30 minutes to a tune the students were familiar with.
The writing process allowed students to recall facts about the Erie
Canal to include in their song. The entire class was engaged and
having fun! Also, Mr. Ruch did not need any musical instruments to
perform the lesson. All the fourth grade teachers realized that
they also could do a songwriting session with their class without
having “musical expertise”. Music is a great teaching tool that can
be applied to any subject.
Teaching
American History Grant
Erie Canal
Project 2009
Holly Snyder
4th Grade Teacher
Chautauqua Lake Central School
100 North Erie Street
Mayville, NY 14787
The fourth grade team worked collaboratively
on expanding their Erie Canal social studies unit to include more
authentic learning experiences for our students. We incorporated a
long-distance learning experience on the Erie Canal, a concert and
song-writing session with Dave Ruch, created a SMART Board lesson,
and created an Erie Canal simulation activity. Each teacher focused
on creating and organizing different aspects of this project. All
lessons, presentations, and alternative learning experiences are
shared among the entire fourth grade team.
I created a SMART Board lesson on the Erie
Canal to be used by the fourth grade team. What an effort that
was! I have forwarded a copy to TAH and I hope that other 4th
grade teachers may be able to access the lesson and apply it to
their units.
I also coordinated the assembly of Mr. Dave
Ruch, performer and teaching artist, who performed a concert for the
Chautauqua Lake Central School students in grades 3 thru 8 on May
21, 2009. The Teaching American History Grant paid for the cost of
this concert. Although the concert was enjoyable for all who
attended, I learned new and interesting facts about the Erie Canal
from Mr. Ruch’s music and dialogue with the audience. He also
inspired me to create various methods of presenting material to
students that is different and exciting. His unique style
demonstrated how a topic could be taught in a format that is
exciting and engaging.
After the concert, Mr. Ruch conducted three
individual songwriting sessions with each of the three fourth grade
sections. The fee for the songwriting sessions was also paid
through the Teaching American History Grant. I was amazed that a
song could be written and performed within a small time-frame of 30
minutes to a tune the students were familiar with. The writing
process allowed students to recall facts about the Erie Canal to
include in their song. The entire class was engaged and having
fun! Also, Mr. Ruch did not need any musical instruments to perform
the lesson. I realized that I also could do a songwriting session
with my class without having “musical expertise”. Music is a great
teaching tool that can be applied to any subject.
This fourth grade unit, the Erie Canal,
received special attention and work primarily due to the Teaching
American History Grant. We looked “outside the box” and took a step
to make the learning experience more meaningful and authentic for
our students. I have personally set a goal to do take the time to
improve one unit each year and make it more applicable to our
current students.
Reflection on the Erie Canal Project
Margie Weise
Chautauqua Lake Central School
The Erie Canal Unit has enabled the students
to use various venues to learn about the canal system in New York
State. By spreading the activities out, the information presented
scaffold, which helped the students understand all the different
connections the Erie Canal had in the US and throughout Europe.
I started the unit with our history book as
the introduction then used the student edition of the Local History
Leaflet from the NYS Historical Association to help explain the
working of the locks. The historical association also had a long
distance learning program, “Peppermint King”, which was interactive
incorporating social studies, math, and science. Students enjoyed
working along with the presenter figuring out costs and profits.
Music of the era recorded by the Hills Brothers was also used ,
telling the stories of workers and events. We then wrote letters to
a family member back in Europe as if each student was a worker
building the canal.
The unit ended with the live performance by
Dave Ruch, built on the song of the Erie Canal. His visit to the
classroom taught me how to use a familiar tune and insert historical
facts. I was impressed with his ability to create 3 different songs
with the 4th grades. His narrations during both sessions
gave me additional information on instruments, facts, and culture
during 1800’s.
Erie Canal SMART Board
Presentation Notes
Page 1
Cover Page
Page 2
Standards
Page 3
Click on picture of Dewitt Clinton to view
about 2 minute video clip of “Why Build the Erie Canal?”
Page 4
Student touches the answer choice to answer
the question. Correct answer “D”. Correct choice will take you to
a “fireworks” page with a back button. Incorrect answers will take
you to a “try again” page with a back button. Click on “try again”
there will be a sound effect.
Page 5
Student touches the answer choice to answer
the question. Correct answer “D”. Correct choice will take you to
a “clapping” page with a back button. Click on the “clapping hands”
to hear a sound effect. Incorrect answers will take you to a “wrong
answer” page with a back button.
Page 6
Student touches the answer choice to answer
the question. Correct answer “D”. Correct choice will take you to
a “fireworks” page with a back button. Incorrect answers will take
you to a “wrong answer” page with a back button.
Page 7
Click on the image to watch a 2-3 minute video
clip on the Construction of the Erie Canal.
Page 8
“What challenges did the workers face when
working on the Erie Canal?” These were mentioned in the video clip
from page 7. Pull each of the four images to reveal a correct
answer. Rotate the cross section of the Erie Canal to discuss
changes in elevation.
Page 9
Two questions from the “Construction of the
Erie Canal” video clip. Reveal the answers by moving the boxes.
Page 10
Click the image to watch a 4 minute video clip
of a modern day captain on the Erie Canal. Good footage of the
canal and locks. Reveal the answer to the question by erasing to
the right of the question.
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