Dark Tide Lesson Plan

Flood Area

Ashley Costa

April 24, 2011

Chapter: 7

Grade level: 3-6

Goal:

The goal for this lesson is to incorporate geographic standards 14 and 18 by providing an overview of chapter 7 while guiding the students through a hands-on activity to provide a better geographic understanding of what’s occurring within the plot of Dark Tide.

Objectives:

The objective of this lesson is for students to create a map using molasses to physically show what areas of north Boston the flood affected through details in the story.

Skills:

*Organizing Geographical Information

*Analyzing Geographical Information

*Acquiring Geographic Information

Geography themes/standards/strands:

Standard 14 – How human actions modify the physical environment.

Thinking deeply into the plot of the story, the community deciding to have a molasses based industry and a large quantity stored there as well has its consequences that affected the physical and social characteristics of the North end of Boston.

Which leads to …

Standard 18 – How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

It takes situations and tragedies to occur for people to realize there are many changes necessary for the well being of the community region, state, and country. In this case, emergency exit routes would probably be the most important. Locating the molasses tank further away incase of a mishap to a place farther from the population would inflict less damage.

Materials:

Blank Map of North Boston

Molasses

Small paper plates

Wet Naps

Construction paper

Black Marker

Tea bags

Matches (for teacher only)

Glue Stick

Introduction:

Ask students what part of Boston the molasses flood affected. Explain to the students that many geographic clues are given within the plot to help historians and them (students) to come up with a conclusion to their investigation. Emphasize that this historic event is an important part of our region’s history and that without geography we couldn’t put a place to the story. Understanding first where it happened through discussion and simple context investigation can help emphasize the geographic standards.

Procedure:

* Present Introduction

  • Have students attempt to pick out the context clues within the story to pick out street names and times at which molasses flood had affect those areas.
  • Have students antique their maps with tea bags, after they dry, the teacher can burn edges.
  • Each student should be given a marker and plate of molasses (enough to finger paint affected area.)
  • If times are correctly given in the story have students mark the time at which molasses had flooded a specific street.
  • Finger paint molasses on to the map where the flood took place. (More than one coat might be necessary.)
  • Paste the dry and finished map to a piece of construction paper with a title and a map.

Evaluation:

If Students can accurately finger paint molasses on to the affected areas on the map, they have successfully interpreted and understood the geographic information from the story. Not only have students exercised the skill of context clues but they have incorporated geographic knowledge to a historic event and how quickly disasters can destroy a city.

This lesson plan was prepared for the Geography Frameworks class at Bridgewater State University. For more information about Dark Tide and this lesson plan, please visit or contact Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan at .