Procedures

• SET-UP

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related handouts and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following Google resources for students to use with this lesson.

  Handout: Vocabulary Activity (Google Slides).

  Handout: Graphic Organizer (Google Slides).

  Handout: Panama Canal Political Cartoon Activity (Google Slides).

  Handout: Panama Canal Advertisement Activity (Google Slides).

  Handout: Panama Canal Newspaper Activity (Google Doc).

  In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

• WARM-UP

  Provide your students with the following questions and have them share their responses with a partner and then the whole class:

  • Why did President Theodore Roosevelt want a canal built across Panama?
  • What advantages would it give American merchants and businesses?

• VOCABULARY INTRODUCTION

  Provide your students access to the vocabulary activity (Google Slides). If they are using their personal electronic devices, they should make a copy of the Google Slide and match each term to the appropriate definition. If they are using this as a printed handout, they can draw arrows to the correct match.

  Have your students compare their matches with a partner or small group and then discuss the correct matches as a whole class.

• EXPLORATION

  After reviewing the vocabulary terms and addressing any misconceptions, have your students view the following video clip to learn about the construction of the Panama Canal: Panama Canal Construction (7:38).

  Then, provide your students access to the Graphic Organizer (Google Slides). Instruct your students to complete the graphic organizer with information from the video clip and answer the following questions:

  • How was the Panama Canal built?
  • What do you think were some of the obstacles faced by the people constructing the canal?
  • Which President of the United States played an important role in getting the canal built?
  • What is the importance of the Panama Canal to countries around the world?

• APPLICATION

  Using what they learned in the video clips and recorded in their responses to the questions above, have your students select one of the following activities to complete about the creation of the Panama Canal.

  • Panama Canal Political Cartoon Activity (Google Slides). In this activity, students choose two of three political cartoons to analyze.
  • Panama Canal Advertisement Activity (Google Slides). In this activity, students create an advertisement for the opening of the Panama Canal.

• CONCLUSION

  Ask your students to consider their notes from the videos and insights from class discussion as they complete the following culminating activity:

  • Panama Canal Newspaper Activity (Google Doc). In this closing activity, students develop a newspaper article about the Panama Canal.