Tell It Again! Read-Aloud Anthology - EngageNY

Lesson Objectives
The Journal of a Twelve-
3
Year-Old on the Erie Canal Core Content Objectives
Students will:
Identify steamboats and canals as new means of travel that
increased the movement of people west
Describe the importance of canals
Identify the Erie Canal as the most famous canal built during the
Canal Era
Demonstrate familiarity with the song “The Erie Canal”
Language Arts Objectives
The following language arts objectives are addressed in this
lesson. Objectives aligning with the Common Core State
Standards are noted with the corresponding standard in
parentheses. Refer to the Alignment Chart for additional standards
addressed in all lessons in this domain.
Students will:
Describe how words and phrases supply rhythm and meaning in
the song “The Erie Canal” (RL.2.4)
Identify the main topic of “The Journal of a Twelve-Year-Old on
the Erie Canal” by creating a quilt square (RI.2.2)
Describe the connection between a series of historical events
such as the Erie Canal and westward expansion (RI.2.3)
With assistance, create and interpret a timeline related to
westward expansion and the Erie Canal (RI.2.7)
Compare and contrast similarities and differences between the
song “The Erie Canal” and the character in “The Journal of a
Twelve-Year-Old on the Erie Canal” (RI.2.9)
40 Westward Expansion 3 | The Journal of a Twelve-Year-Old on the Erie Canal
© 2013 Core Knowledge Foundation