Ohio and Erie Canal                                                                                                              

Activities

*You will be assigned to a group name and color, and each group will have three students.

1.  In the first activity click on the "Readings" button. 

Reading 1 Ohio's Shot in the Arm is followed by five questions. 

• Your first job is for each group member to spend time reading this section very carefully.  I suggest that each student spend time reading this two times.  I then want each group member to discuss in your cooperative group what you learned from reading the first reading. 
• Your second job is for each group member to write a three paragraph essay on what they learned from reading this, and what they liked about the reading.  Each essay is to have an introduction, main body and a conclusion.  I want each group member to email me this as a Microsoft Word Document. 
• Your third job is for your group to come together to divide up the five questions to be answered.  Since their are three students in each group, one student is left to answer only one question.  This student will make up a question of his or her choice and they will answer this question.  I then want each group member to come together as a group to discuss the answers to the questions and for the entire group to email me one typed Microsoft Word Document with all of the students names on it with the questions and answers.  

Reading 2 Construction and Operation of the Ohio and Erie Canal is again followed by five questions. 

• Your first job is for each group member to spend time reading this section very carefully.  I suggest that each student spend time reading this two times.  I then want each group member to discuss in your cooperative group what you learned from reading the second reading. 
• Your second job is for each group member to write a three paragraph essay on what they learned from reading this, and what they liked about the reading.  Each essay is to have an introduction, main body and a conclusion.  I want each group member to email me this as a Microsoft Word Document. 
• Your third job is for your group to come together to divide up the five questions to be answered.  Since their are three students in each group, one student is left to answer only one question.  This student will make up a question of his or her choice and they will answer this question.  I then want each group member to come together to discuss the answers to the questions and for the entire group to email me one typed Microsoft Word Document with all of the students names on it with the questions and answers.  

2.  In the second activity click on the "Map" button.  You will see a large map that shows various canals in Ohio from the years 1825 - 1913. 

• Your first job is to work with your cooperative learning group to create a large map with all of the various canals listed.  Pay close attention to the route of the Ohio and Erie Canal that stretches from Cleveland to Portsmouth, Ohio.  You are to use construction paper, colored pencils, and any other materials that you have to create a large replica of this map.  Each of your group members are to take separate roles in completing this assignment.  One group member can obtain all of the materials and start drawing the basic outline of the state of Ohio, another group member can draw the individual canal routes, and the other group member can start coloring the map.  I will monitor and walk around to make sure that each group member has an individual job and is working as a team player. 
• Your second job is for each student to write a detailed paragraph (4-5 sentences) on how they had contributed to the creation of the map.  I will then meet with individual group members so they can discuss with me their contributions.  The paragraph does not have to be typed, I prefer in handwritten form. 
• Your third job is for each group member to select one question and to answer the question completely.  I want each group member to type their individual question with their answer in a Microsoft Word Document and email this to me.  When each group member has completed their individual question, each group member will discuss their answers to the group. 

3.  In the third activity click on the "Image" button.  You will see a diagram that shows the "required canal specifications for the depth of the river and the canal bed at both the river bottom and the surface." 

• One member of the group is required to complete question 1 that relates to this diagram.  You are to write out the entire question with the answer and include a drawing of diagram 1.  The question with the answer may appear on the drawing.  This may appear to you the lone question that seems rather easy, but I will be looking for detail in the drawing and one that looks accurate to the diagram that is given.  The other two members of the group will select either question number 2 or 3.  The questions require you to write paragraphs and correct grammar and spelling will be graded in this assignment.  I want the complete question with your answers typed in a Microsoft Word Document and emailed to me as an attachment.  When all group members are finished with their part of the assignment, each group member will share their work.  An extra credit assignment for each group member is also available for this activity.  The extra credit assignment is for you to find other pictures on the Ohio and Erie Canal using the possible links page or the AltaVista search engine.  If using AltaVista a good idea is to enter the words "Ohio and Erie canal" and click images to find pictures of the canal.  Select two or maybe three pictures that you really like and right click on your mouse button and select "save image as" and then save the file in a folder.  Write down somewhere the exact web address where you found the pictures at.  Open the file that you have your pictures stored in and drag the pictures into a Microsoft Word Document and write two or three sentences on why you like the pictures and type the web address where you found the pictures. 

4.  In the fourth activity click on the "Online Discuss" button.  In this activity your group will research on a certain topic that I had chosen for each group.  

• Group members will enter a discussion forum and you will find your groups number and color.  Information about your project will be listed under your group number and color.  You are to research this topic and to post discussion topics that may consist of links of sites that you had found in regards to information about your topic, or any other important information.  You are required to post articles on the discussion forum.  The more articles posted, the more I will get a sense on how much time and energy that you are putting into this.  If you post any negative post, I will delete the post and you will face consequences.  For each chosen topic you are to provide a 3 paragraph essay and provide a picture of your chosen topic.  First discuss as a group how you want to write up this essay and each group member will write one paragraph and then all group members will come together to put the entire essay together.  Each paragraph will contain 4-5 sentences and you are to use Microsoft Word to type your essay and to insert your picture.  Please email me this as an attachment with all group members names on the document and include a paragraph at the end of the essay on how each group contributed to this project. 

*To begin posting on the discussion forum, click on Register at the top of the form and you are to read Mr. Shamblin's Online Discussions - Registration Agreement Terms.  Then click on I agree to these terms and am under 13 years of age.   Only enter the information under the first section that is titled Registration Information.  Save your username and password in a safe place because you will use this to log into the board.  Then click on Submit way at the end of the document.

5.  In the fifth activity click on the "Links" button. 

• As a group I want you to spend thirty to forty minutes going over the links and visiting the websites and spending time talking about sites that you really like, sites that you don't like, and discuss why you like them or why you don't like them.  Each group member will answer these questions in a typed Microsoft Word Document, What sites do you like/dislike? What did you learn or not learn from the sites? Would you recommend the sites to your friends? Why or why not?  Each question will be answered in one paragraph (4-5 sentences).  After you are finished, each student in the class will share their answers with the entire class.

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