Construction and Opening
View Showing the Progress of the Work on the Lock Section
Additional Primary Sources
Compelling Question:
What role did technology play in the building of the Erie Canal?
Setting the Stage: Have students complete the Building the Erie Canal activity from PBS Learning Media before analyzing the document.
Supporting Question 1: How did the canal impact the existing landscape?
Supporting Question 2: What technology do you think was used to build this part of the canal?
Assessment: Write a short explanation of how the use of the lock system made the Erie Canal possible?
Compelling Question:
Did the market economy build the canal or did the canal build the market economy?
Setting the Stage: Show Evolution of Transportation from PBS Learning Media and ask students to discuss the changes in transportation over time.
Supporting Question 1: What is being offered for sale in this broadside?
Supporting Question 2: Why would this purchase be beneficial to a business?
Assessment: If you owned a grist mill, how would you respond to this advertisement? Write a paragraph explaining your response.
Compelling Question:
Where will the Erie Canal take me?
Setting the Stage: Have students complete The Impact of the Erie Canal activity from PBS Learning Media before completing the document analysis.
Supporting Question 1: What two large bodies of water are connected by the canal?
Supporting Question 2: What major cities in New York State are located along the canal?
Assessment: Write a journal entry about your trip along the Erie Canal. Describe the places you visited and where the canal took you.
