Course Title:
Principles of Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Lesson Title:
History of Water Transportation
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130.392 4A, B, C
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter130/ch130p.html
Lesson Objectives
1. The student will be able to identify significant milestones in the history of waterways as a
transportation mode
2. The student will be able to identify how boats and barges developed as one of the primary
modes of transportation.
3. The student will be able to describe waterways transportations influence on the development of
commerce and cultures.
Tools and Equipment
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Computers with Internet accessibility,
PowerPoint, Excel, Word (Microsoft) software for computers
Copy machine accessibility for presentation material handouts
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History Water Transportation PowerPoint
http://txeducationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=10&CID=2
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Fun Facts of the development of water transportation
http://txeducationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=10&CID=2
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Quiz and Quiz Key for the history and water of transportation
http://txeducationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=10&CID=2
Key Terms / Vocabulary:
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Navigable waterway,
Canals,
Locks,
Aqueducts,
Passenger Vessels,
Bulk Carriers,
General Cargo,
Roll on-Roll off (RORO),
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Ferry
Supertanker
Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
a. Introduce students to the importance of water transportation in the United States by watching
the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxHIk5ARHLI .
Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
1. Define Transportation and then use the PowerPoint presentation on the History and
Development of Water Transportation (PowerPoint is found at
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=11&CID=2) to introduce early
development of water transport.
2. Discuss modern water transportation and the importance of this mode of transportation.
Have students make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of water transport.
Activity/Application/ Student Engagement /Laboratory
1. Have students define the key terms and vocabulary words using notes from the presentation
and by exploring transportation on the internet and reviewing fun water transportation facts
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=10&CID=2).
2. Have the students identify rivers and waterways that are used for transport of goods in the
United States.
3. Discuss the concepts of canal systems and locks and dams. Show the videos How Locks Work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWyBz5bHj8 and Erie Canal Locks Time Lapse HD Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_Hr3iCPls. Have students write a paragraph on how
locks and dams work and their importance.
Evaluation / Summary
Students will correctly answer a minimum of 70% of the questions on the lesson assessment to
demonstrate mastery of this material. Use History and Development of Water Transportation Quiz and
the History and Development of Water Transportation Quiz Key
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=10&CID=2)
References/Additional Materials / Extended Learning Opportunities/ Enrichment
Video clips
History of ferry boats in Harris County, Texas. A short film ferries in Harris County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVJH8EqNPGU
How Locks Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWyBz5bHj8
Erie Canal Locks Time Lapse HD Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_Hr3iCPls.
Documents
Importance of Waterways to US Agriculture: http://www.ngfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013-NGFAWaterways-Issue-Paper-_April.pdf
The Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway: http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/tpp/giww/giww00.pdf
The Gulf Coast Waterway:
http://www.texasgulfcoastonline.com/portals/0/pdfs/tx_gulfcoastwaterway.pdf
College & Career Readiness Standard
Developed for the Education Excellence curriculum project
For Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
©Texas Education Agency, 2014