A Webquest of the Erie Canal

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A

WEBQUEST

OF THE ERIE

CANAL

Completed by Miss Katie Brooks

INTRODUCTION

In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed.

This water system linked Lake Erie with the Hudson River. The Erie Canal encouraged settlers to move west and provided a cheap and safe way to move products for trading.

TASK

• You have traveled back in time and will be taking a trip along the Erie Canal in the first years of its existence.

• You will be directed to various websites which allow you to experience and explore the Erie Canal in its earliest form.

• At the completion of your journey you will be asked to write a description of your travels which includes some of the ports that you visited and who you met along the way.

Canal meets

Lake Erie

MAP OF CANAL

Canal meets

Hudson River

We live here!!

PROCESSES

1. Watch the clip below about the development of and early years of travel on the Erie Canal. http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?Vi

deoID=26538

2. Click on the link below and select ‘Canal Tour’ from the menu on the right. Choose an area of the canal to travel and explore. At your favorite port email me a postcard and explain why you enjoyed visiting that town. http://www.epodunk.com/routes/eriecanal/start.html

PROCESSES

3. Click on the link below to view an interactive slideshow about the Erie Canal. Read the information and explore the pages about aqueducts, excavation, history and locks. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork//laic/episo de1/topic7/erie.swf

4. Do you have what it takes to build or operate a lock along the Erie Canal? Click on the link below to test your skills. http://www.canals.org/games/Lockpuzzle/Loc k_Puzzle_x768_1_8.html

CONCLUSION

Congratulations! You have completed your journey. Now write a letter to a friend or family member to share your experiences on the Erie

Canal. Be sure to reference at least 3 of the following: your reaction of the trip, people you met, ports you visited, fun facts you learned, your opinion of Governor Clinton approving the project, traveling through locks, your favorite part of the trip or reaction about being pulled along the canal by mules.

EVALUATION

4 3 2 1

Information

Accuracy

Detail

Language and

Mechanics

(spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary)

Information is accurate with no mistakes.

Information is mostly accurate with 1-2 mistakes

Information is somewhat accurate with 3-4 mistakes

Letter includes more than 3 of the required details.

Letter includes 3 of the required details.

Letter includes 2 of the required details.

Above grade level use of writing conventions.

Grade level use of writing conventions

Below grade level use of writing conventions.

Information is mostly inaccurate with 4+ mistakes.

Letter includes 1 or no required details.

Does not take into consideration writing conventions.

Effort and

Presentation

Writing is typed or exceptionally neat and easy to follow.

Writing is neat and easy to follow.

Writing is sloppy with errors scribbled out.

Writing is illegible and the letter not written with care.

**Student will be given a score 1-4 based on the number of indicators earned in each category**

RESOURCES

• http://www.eriecanal.org/index.html

• http://www.eriecanal.org/maps/Abbott-1852.jpg

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