Lesson Plan

Traveling the National Road - Unit 5: Workers Along the National Road

A painting of a Conestoga wagon with the wagoner riding one of the horses
A wagoner with his Conestoga wagon
National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center

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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
National/State Standards:
National Standards for History: K-4 Standard 2, 3, 5, 8. Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: II, VII, VIII. Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1, 3.3, 3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, 3.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4.

Vocabulary

Stagecoach driver, wagoner, farmer, blacksmith, drover, toll keepers, tavern workers

Overview

In “Traveling the National Road (Workers Along the National Road)” students will learn what types of jobs were found along the National Road.

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 5 and contains teacher background, a student reading and two activities.


Objective(s)

Guiding Question: What kinds jobs were found along on the National Road? What types of jobs are no longer common? What type of jobs do people still work in today?

 

Critical Content: The National Road created many jobs. Some, such as stagecoach driver, wagoner and rock crusher, are no longer common. Others, such as waitress, maid and cook, are still employing people today.

 

Student objectives: Students will…

·        List four jobs created by the National Road

·        List one duty for the farmer, tollhouse keeper, blacksmith and tavern keeper

 



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 5: Workers Along the National Road. This unit is a 14 page long pdf covering the types of workers found along the National Road and some of their duties.



Procedure

1.    Download the pdf of the lesson

2.    Read the teacher background

3.    Make copies of the student reading for each student

4.    Make copies of the activities for each students

5.    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