Taunton's Schools, Where Did They Go?

Written by:

Bill Welch, Berkley Community School

Leigh E. Buttermore, Taunton High School

Discipline: Social Studies

Grade: 5-9

Time: 1 Class Period

Goals:

To understand how geographical locations of schools were impacted by demographics, economics, and transportation

Objectives:

	Student will be able to identify locations on a map using coordinates.
	Student will be able to identify relative coordinates of locations on a map.
	Student will be able to explain how and why the number of schools in 1870 and 2001changed over time.
	Students will be able to describe the impact work, transportation, and technology had on local schools.

Procedures:

Introduction

	A. KWL chart on whiteboard, have students also draw in their notebooks
	Brainstorm what students know about maps, what they want to learn about amps.

Mapping

Handout map of Taunton (1870) with school list and coordinates

Review how to locate specific locations by cross referencing coordinates

Have students identify coordinates for schools already labeled on map (the schools in 1870 are labeled)

Cross check coordinates with partner/classmate

Critical Thinking

Inquiry sheet > questions regarding map and Taunton history

What can students postulate about the school locations in 1870 (keeping population considerations in mind)?

What has changed as far as number of schools and locations?

What may have caused these changes?

Technology

Economics

Transportation

Have students study map of Taunton 1870. Do they observe any other changes in Taunton since 1870? What are they?

Culmination

	Go back to KWL chart on whiteboard, ask students if questions in the "W" column have been answered in the lesson. If not, address those questions.
	As a class, fill in the "L" column with what students have learned.
	Pass out 1 sticky mote to each student. On sticky note, have students write down one thing they have learned about Taunton history regarding schools, population, technology, transportation, etc. Have students put sticky note on front boards as they leave class...

Assessment:

Classroom observation of student working; check map coordinates for proper schools, location; completed "Inquiry" sheet

Materials Needed:

	Map of Taunton, 1870
	Whiteboard, markers
	"Index" of schools and coordinates
	Markers, crayons
	Handout with "inquiry" and critical thinking questions
	Notebooks

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