Curated OER
The History of Your Chicago River
Young scholars examine the history of the Chicago River. In groups, they identify the problems of the watershed and develop possible solutions. As a class, they examine the importance of the river to the Chicago area by reading a story....
Curated OER
The Chicago River's Journey through Time
Students create a book, which shows the changes in the Chicago River throughout time. They demonstrate their comprehension of the major historical changes in the Chicago River. Students create their own book titled: The Chicago River's...
Curated OER
Rivers Through Time
Students read or have the book A River Ran Wild read to them. They discuss and reflect on the messages presented in the book. Students use their listening comprehension skills to draw conclusions. Students articulate several examples of...
Curated OER
Exploring the History of the I&M Canal
Students examine the building of the I & M canal in Chicago. Using the internet, they research the lives of the individuals who worked on the construction and develop a timeline of events. They explore the impact of the canal on...
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I've Felt the Same Way
Students recognize various differences between their lives and the lives of
people living in the 19th century Chicago area. They hear stories from people living in four different historical time periods and match the stories
to their...
Polk Bros Foundation
Harold Washington's Acceptance Speech - April 12th, 1983
Harold Washington forged a coalition of voters and won the Chicago mayoral election of 1983. In doing so he became the first black mayor of that racially and ethnically divided city. Excerpts from his speech are included in a worksheet...
Curated OER
Getting a Sense of Time
Students gain an appreciation for geologic and historic time. They gain a general amount of information of the development of hte Chicago area, with particular attention given to the role of the Chicago River. Students contruct a time...
Curated OER
Backwards Goes It Does
Students create a three-dimensional model of the Chicago river watershed to determine the flow of the river at its mouth. They use prepared clear gelatin and topographic maps to discover that the building of canals actually reversed the...
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Water Quality Tests Explained
Students define all eight water quality parameters and list at list one source for each of the eight water quality parameters. They determine how each of the eight parameters affect river ecosystems.
Curated OER
What is a River?
Students study the various types of bodies of water: rivers, oceans, lakes and ponds. They observe models of each and then use clues to discuss how they are alike and different. They imagine they have found a new planet and draw a map...
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OSAE Can You See
Students observe, speculate, analyze and evaluate conclusions about Mississippi River locations as well as illustrate their findings in drawings. They enhance themselves with their surroundings and landscape pictures at various places...
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How Old Is Illinois?
High schoolers use fossils found in rocks to determine the age of the strata between Rock Island and Chicago. Pupils pretend they are geologists. They must determine the age of all rock layers between the Mississippi River and Lake...
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The Cost of Telling the Truth
Students examine Leopold's Land Ethic involving illegal river dumping. They consider the dilemmas of the case study and share their ideas for a solution using group discussion and individual answers.
Curated OER
Hammurabi's Code: What Does It Tell Us About Old Babylonia?
Students examine life in Babylonia during the time of King Hammurabi. They read and discuss excerpts of the Code of Hammurabi, participate in a simulation of advisors to the king, complete an online interactive activity, answer...
Curated OER
The Geography of the United States
Full of bright maps and interesting information, this presentation details U.S. Geography. Slides include basic facts about size, regions, topography, and demographics, as well as fascinating trivia about the United States, including...
Curated OER
Choices Make A Difference
Students are explained that wastewater treatment plants are regulated as to the quality of water they may discharge into our rivers and canals. They are explained that wastewater treatment plants clean many pollutants out of the...
Curated OER
Marquette and Joliet Explore the Mississippi in 1673
Students locate and name the St. Lawrence River, the five Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River on a modern map. They find Quebec, Michilimackinac, Wisconsin, and Chicago on that map. They find the same places on a 1681 map.
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Erosion: Natural or Unnatural
Students explore how water has the power to erode, how developing the land (building roads, buildings and parking lots) increases the amount of water reaching our rivers, and how this greater quantity of water increases erosion. They...
Curated OER
What Are Maps For?
Students create a story about a problem someone could have which could be solved by the use of a map. They complete a worksheet that guides them through the features of a map of Chicago. Then they calculate story problems using the...
Curated OER
Water Quality Tests Explained
Students identify the eight tests done to check for water quality. In this ecology lesson, students explain why it's important to test water in rivers. They explore sources of river water pollution.
Curated OER
Watercycle
Third graders examine the natural circulation of water from oceans, lakes, and rivers to evaporation into the air, and then to condensation to produce rain falling back to the soil as components of the water cycle.
Curated OER
Deerfield Matures: Deerfield's Changing Economy
Eleventh graders explain that Deerfield became prosperous because of the river trade and improved agricultural practices. They examine how transportation and communication were improved.
Curated OER
A Bridge Going Up and Down
Students recognize the purpose of the Michigan Avenue Bascule Trunnion Bridge. They examine photos of bridges and sing a song about Chicago's famous bascule trunnion bridge to investigate how
moveable bridges work.
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Interpreting Aerial Photographs
Pupils interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...