Teachers may choose to focus on one or more of a variety of subjects from
Chapter IX. The journal response questions for this chapter suggest some
possibilities.
Read aloud in class Chapter IX
of Marco Paul's Travels on the Erie Canal.
After classroom discussion, students answer the following questions in
their journals.
Response Journal Questions
Write a paragraph demonstrating how Forester
compares a regular canal to a short canal, which must circumvent
falls and rapids (comparison writing).
Write a paragraph giving Forester's explanation
of the differences between the Niagara River and other rivers
(geography).
Marco hopes to build his own canal when
he returns to Vermont. What has he learned that should enable
him to do this? How will he do it? Do you think that he will succeed?
Why? (transfer of learning).
Marco wonders how a canal can be built
without a great deal of confusion. Discuss the formation and workings
of a company that builds canals (economics).
