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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that, in New England, rivers provided the power to the factories during the industrialization Revolution by examining two lithographs of Turners Falls Ma. Students will also ascertain that factories dramatically changed the landscape and the job prospects of the town residents.
In order to complete this activity, students will need access to a computer to view the lithographs of Turners Falls. Alternately, the teacher may project the lithographs on to the wall or white board. Regardless of your choice, the use of the “look closer” button is key in achieving an up close view of the lithographs.
In addition, after completing this activity, you may wish to explore The American Centuries web site to discover other examples of industrial communities that depended on water power.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will examine the 1835 lithograph of Turners Falls MA. The teacher will ask the following leading questions.
Students will examine the 1835 lithograph of Turners Falls Ma. The teacher will ask the following leading questions.
What types of buildings do you see in the lithograph?
Based on the lithograph, how did the residents of Turners Falls earn a living in 1835?
What role did the river play in the economy of the community?
The students will make a list of the jobs and how they were connected to the river. Example
Farming: Water for the animals
Water for the crops
Step 2.
Students will examine the 1877 lithograph of Turners Falls. The teacher will ask the following leading questions.
What types of buildings do you see in the lithograph?
Based on the lithograph, how did the residents of Turners Falls earn a living in 1877?
What role did the river play in the economy of the community?
What role did the water fall play in the economy of the community?
The students will make a list of the jobs and how they were connected to the river.
Example
Factory worker - water for the workers
Step 3.
Students will log on the web site below.
http://asms.k12.ar.us/classes/humanities/amstud/97-98/waterpwr/ Alternately, the teacher may project the web site on to the wall or white board or create handouts for the students. Student will read the first three paragraphs of The Power of Water and the Industrial Revolution. Students will view the diagram of how the water created power for the factories. The teacher will assist students in understanding the diagram.
Step 4.
Students will add to the list of jobs found in the 1877 lithograph.
Example
Railroad worker: Bringing raw materials to the mill and shipping finished goods to market - water powered the factory that made the goods and therefore created the railroad jobs.
Step 5.
Assessment: Students will write an essay using the following prompt. Pretend that you are a river applying for the job of power provider for a future industrial town. You must include the following information in your essay:
How did the factory benefit from the river?
What kinds of jobs were created by the river/factory relationship?
How did the river contribute to the change in the landscape?
Students may use the lithographs, the lists created in class, and information from The Power of Water and the Industrial Revolution web site in writing their essay.
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