American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > Sunderland Bridges Falling Down

Sunderland Bridges Falling Down

Details

Author
Ellen Von Flatern
Topic/Subject Area
Natural Phenomena, Weather, Climate
Historical Era
Rise of Industrial America, 1878–1899, Progressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928, Great Depression and World War II, 1929–1945
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2003
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that examining and comparing primary documents can be a valuable tool in learning about the history of one’s town. In the larger unit students will be assessing the effects of natural disasters on their town. In this introductory activity students will utilize the online collection of the American Centuries website, comparing images of two of Sunderland’s bridges in order to make predictions and ask questions regarding Sunderland’s town history. After reading and discussing the labels accompanying the pictures, students will understand that floods had a devastating effect on the bridges of Sunderland.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items

Teaching Plan

  1. The teacher will activate prior knowledge by asking the students what they know about the history of the current Sunderland Bridge? How old is it? Has it always been there?
  2. Students will view the two photographs of bridges from the American Centuries website to determine answers to the following questions. Which picture is older? What leads you to believe this? Where is the person who took this picture standing? Which of these bridges is there today? What reasons can you think of for replacing a bridge? What do you think the reasons were in this case?
  3. Students will then be given the label that accompanies each picture. The class will read these descriptions orally, to make sure all students have access to the information. The class will work together to complete a Venn diagram that compares both bridges. In the Venn diagram will be answers to the following questions. Why was each bridge built? When was each bridge built? What materials were used in the construction of each bridge? Why were they constructed differently?
  4. In conclusion, students will write their predictions of what the Sunderland Bridge might look like a hundred years from now. Will it be the same or different? Will other floods affect our bridges, town? How?
  5. The bridge activity serves as an introduction to the next, during which students brainstorm the many ways floods could have an impact, both positive and negative, on a community. They will be assigned a research project on the impact of floods. This research should include causes, effects, advantages, disadvantages, main geographic regions of flooding, evidence of other floods in history. Information will be shared and discussed in class.
  6. Extensions: Students could see how other weather phenomena have affected the community, i.e. hurricanes, drought. Are there primary documents that can aid in this endeavor?