Lesson Plan

Traveling the National Road – Unit 10: Other Activities and Appendix

Photograph of the toll rates that were posted outside the tollhouses
The toll rates that were posted outside the tollhouses
National Road Heritage Corridor

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Grade Level:
Second Grade-Fourth Grade
Subject:
Commerce and Industry, Economics, Transportation, Westward Expansion
Duration:
45 – 90 minutes
Group Size:
Up to 36
Setting:
classroom

Overview

In “Traveling the National Road (Other Activities and Appendix)” students will participate in three math activities, one using the toll rates and two using the distances on the mile markers. The appendix has a timeline, bibliography, list of vocabulary and a word search

The “Traveling the National Road” teacher’s guide is broken into ten units and is targeted for 3rd grade students.  Each unit can be completed independently.  This is unit 10 and contains three activities and an appendix.


Objective(s)

Guiding Question: How much were the tolls along the National Road? How do you use the mile markers to calculate distances? When did important event occur on the National Road?

 

Critical Content: Students will use their math skills to calculate how much they would have to pay at a National Road tollhouse. They will also use their math skills to calculate distances using the mile markers. Students can use the National Road timeline as a reference for important dates.

 

Student objectives: Students will…

·        Calculate one toll rate

·        Calculate one distance from the mile markers

·        Use the National Road timeline as a reference

 

Background

The "Traveling the National Road" teacher's guide is broken into ten units and is targeted for 3rd grade students. Each unit can be completed independently. Units 1 - 6 each have teacher background, a student reading and two student activities. Unit 7 has fourteen biography cards of people associated with the National Road along with two student activities. Unit 8 has fourteen occupation cards of jobs that were associated with the National Road along with three student activities. Unit 9 discusses seven historic sites in Pennsylvania associated with the National Road. Unit 10 has other activities and an appendix. Additionally there are two posters: one is a map of the National Road and the other is a list of the historic tolls.

 

Check out the other units:

 

Unit 1: Overview of the National Road

Unit 2: Construction of the National Road

Unit 3: Travelers and Transportation on the National Road

Unit 4: Accommodation on the National Road

Unit 5: Workers Along the National Road

Unit 6: Decline and Rebirth of the National Road

Unit 7: Biography Cards

Unit 8: Occupation Cards

Unit 9: Historic Site Cards

Unit 10: Other Activities and Appendix

 

Materials

Unit 10: Other Activities and Appendix. This unit is an 19 page long pdf covering the toll rates and mile markers associated with the National Road in Pennsylvania. A timeline of events along the National Road and a list of vocabulary are available as reference materials. Also there is a bibliography and a word hunt.

Procedure

 

1.    Download the pdf of the lesson plan

2.    Read the three student activities

3.    Make copies of the worksheets for the students

4.    Teach and discuss with the students

Park Connections

This lesson relates to the Mount Washington Tavern located in the main unit of Fort Necessity National Battlefield. The tavern was a 1830s stagecoach stop along the National Road and is now a furnished museum. It tells the story of travelers, transportation and accommodations along the road. This lesson will help students prepare for the "Travelers and Workers Along the National Road" field trip.

Additional Resources

Map of the National Road

Toll Rates

National Road Timeline