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Summary and Objective
By examining photographs and a newspaper report students will understand that the Mill River flood of 1874 was a devastating disaster which caused a huge loss of life and property in Western Massachusetts. Upon reading the Coroner's Jury Report, students will understand that shoddy workmanship and lack of oversight were the main causes for the failure of the dam and resulting flood. By the end of the lesson, students will have created a chart outlining causes and effects of this event. They will demonstrate their understanding of the causes and effects of this flood by writing a "letter to the editor" of Harper's Weekly c. 1874.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will work in small groups. They will receive three pictures showing the destruction of the flood. Pictures include: "Views of the flood in Mill River Valley", "Mill River Calamity" from Harper's Weekly and "Harper's Weekly Journal of Civilization" illustration. Students will examine the three pictures to look for causes and effects of this flood. Students will notice the destruction of both property, the landscape, and people's response to the flood.
Step 2.
Students will create a "T" chart to record causes/effects of the flood.
Step 3.
Students will read and examine the article "Terrible Horror" from the Journal of Industry Newspaper. From this source students will be able to record more specific details of the destruction of building, bridges, monetary losses and loss of life. They should record effects of the flood on their T chart.
Step 4.
Before proceeding to the Coroner's jury report, the final document, students should be asked to speculate what could have caused this disaster. This could be started in their small groups and then shared with the larger group.
Step 5.
Students will read and examine the Coroner's Jury Report as printed in the "Journal of Industry" newspaper and list the causes of the flood and any effects not yet listed.
Step 6.
Students should discuss their findings as recorded on their charts. How did the Coroner’s Jury report confirm their predictions?
Step 7.
Each student should write a letter to the editor of "Harper's Weekly" as though they are a surviving resident of one of the affected towns. Students should cite at least three effects and two causes of the flood as recorded in their charts.
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