Course Title: Energy, Power, and Transportation Systems
Lesson Title: History of Road Transportation
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130.393 4A, B
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 roads and
highways
2. The student will be able to identify how roads and road building developed as one of the
major modes of transportation.
3. The student will be able to describe how roads and highways influenced transportation
and the development of commerce and cultures, particularly the expansion of the
western United States.
Tools and Equipment






Computers with Internet accessibility,
PowerPoint, Excel, Word (Microsoft) software for computers
Copy machine accessibility for presentation material handouts
History Road Transportation PowerPoint
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2)
Fun facts of the development of road transportation
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2)
Quiz and Quiz Key for the history and road of transportation
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2)
Key Terms / Vocabulary:





Traces
Silk Road
Macadam roads
The Mother Road
National Defense Highway System
Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
a. Introduce students to the early history of road building by watching the videos: Roman
Roads How They Were Built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh9oC01JE54 and
Roman Roads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu94sFmNwMw.
b. Invite a guest speaker from the department of transportation to speak about local roads
and future projects.
Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
1. Define Transportation and then use the PowerPoint presentation on the History of
Road Transportation (PowerPoint is found at
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2) to introduce
early development of roads and the importance of this mode of transportation.
2. Discuss early roads and how roads influenced the development of commerce and
civilization. An excellent early short documentary on roads and the development of
the automobile in the US is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LAXNB_3orc.
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 road
facts (http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2).
2. Many historic roads have disappeared over the years after the advent of the Interstate
Highway System (for example Route 66). Have students explore these historic roads and
then create a timeline or a map based on what they learned. An excellent resource is
the historic roads website which lists historic roads by state.
http://www.historicroads.org/sub1_3.htm
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 Road Transportation
Quiz and the History and Development of Road Transportation Quiz Key
(http://educationalexcellence.tamu.edu/topic.aspx?ID=35&CID=2).
References/Additional Materials / Extended Learning Opportunities/ Enrichment
Historic Roads website: http://www.historicroads.org/sub1_3.htm
The Interstate Highway System: http://www.interstate-guide.com/
US Highways: http://us-highways.com/
Videos
Roman Roads How They Were Built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh9oC01JE54
Roman Roads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu94sFmNwMw.
Horatio’s Drive/ PBS America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LAXNB_3orc.
The Driverless Car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7SiDobQU-g
College & Career Readiness Standard
©Texas Education Agency, 2014