For Educators
1. Activity
In the late 1800’s, St. Johnsbury was connected to larger cities by the railroad. This allowed for goods to be more easily brought in and shipped out from the Northeast Kingdom. Build a railroad to ship local goods out of St. Johnsbury to other areas of the country.
Discussion questions
What goods to you think were shipped out from our area?
What natural resources in the NEK would have been wanted by other regions?
What impact to you think this had on jobs?
What impact do you think this had on the environment?
Vermont learning standards
D2.Eco.1.6-8. Explain how BY THE END OF GRADE 12 D2.Eco.1.9-12. Analyze how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
D2.Eco.4.3-5. Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.
D2.Geo.6.K-2. Identify some cultural and environ mental characteristics of specific places.
Source
https://www.stjhistory.org/post/st-johnsbury-history-heritage-center-railroad-street
2. Activity
Homes across the world are built with a variety of materials based on the environment and what resources are available. Build a home that you think resembles what homes looked like on Vermont 200 years ago.
Discussion questions
What do you think early settlers had available to help them build their homes?
How are today’s Vermont homes similar and different?
What types of features do you think would be helpful in these early homes?
Why do you think early Vermont homes look different then homes in warm desert climates?
Vermont learning standards
D2.Geo.4.K-2. Explain how weather, climate, and other environmental characteristics affect people’s lives in a place or region.
D2.His.2.K-2. Compare life in the past to life today.
3. Activity
The Northeast Kingdom has beautiful waterways such as the Passumpsic River, Moose River, Clyde River, and the Connecticut River. Build a bridge to go over a river and connect local towns.
Discussion questions
How might waterways without bridges cause problems for the people of the northeast kingdom?
Do you think bridges were more important to Vermonters in the 1800s or today?
How did bridges improve people’s lives in the northeast kingdom?
Vermont learning standards
D2.His.4.K-2. Compare perspectives of people in the past to those of people in the present.
D2.His.14.3-5. Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.
D2.Geo.7.3-5. Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.
Source
https://northeastkingdom.com/paddling/
