Fueling the fires of American industrialization
http://www.foresthistory.org/Education/Curriculum/Activity/activ3/activ3.html
A lesson plan for grades 5 and 8 Social Studies
In this lesson from the Forest History Society in Durham, North Carolina, students examine the role wood played in the American Industrial Revolution. By calculating how much wood was consumed by U.S. railroads before and after the invention of wood preservatives, in addition to reading about the use of barbed wire for fencing, students will observe the connection between technology and forest conservation. Students also will learn how research and development have contributed to the diverse use of forest products in everyday household items.
Students will:
- understand the connections among industrialization, the advent of the modern corporation and material well-being;
- understand the effects of rapid industrialization on the environment;
- analyze the role that supply and demand, prices, incentives, and profits play in determining what is produced and distributed in a competitive market system; and
- show through specific example how science and technology have changed people’s perceptions of the social and natural world, such as in their relationship to the lands, animal life, family life, and economic needs, wants and security.
Visit the Forest History Society’s Education Table of Contents for other modules in this series.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 5
- Goal 6: The learner will recognize how technology has influenced change within the United States and other countries in North America.
- Objective 6.02: Relate how certain technological discoveries have changed the course of history and reflect on the broader social and environmental changes that can occur from the discovery of such technologies.
Grade 8
- Goal 5: The learner will evaluate the impact of political, economic, social, and technological changes on life in North Carolina from 1870 to 1930.
- Objective 5.04: Identify technological advances, and evaluate their influence on the quality of life in North Carolina.
