Social Studies Unit 1 Activity 8

Unit 1: Louisiana's Physical and Cultural Geography

Activity 8: Rivers and Roads (GLEs: 6, 9)

CC: 1. Provide students with a map outline of Louisiana with the following rivers and bayous (Mississippi, Red, Lafourche, Pearl, Teche, Sabine and Calcasieu). Have the students label the rivers/bayous as well as locate the cities of Natchitoches, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houma/Thibodaux, St. Martinville/New Iberia, Lake Charles. Have students write an explanation of the relationship of these cities to the rivers/bayous (i.e., transportation). Emphasis is placed on the fact that early settlements were located on major waterways. (See Activity 7 for founding dates.)

2. Using the same or a similar map, assist students in identifying the following major historic roadways such as El Camino Real (LA 6, Hwy 90 / Natchitoches to San Antonio to Mexico City), Old Spanish Trail (U.S. 90, Hwy 182 / New Orleans to New Iberia to Toomey / Sabine River), and Nolan's Trace (U.S. 84 / Natchez to Texas). Using an atlas have students denote one to two major cities on these routes not already listed as a river city (e.g., Crowley, Lafayette). Have students draw conclusions as to why these cities flourished after the routes were established.

3. In addition to the selected historic routes, now have students draw (possibly a new map for portfolio) several major modern highways such as interstates (i.e., 10, 12, 20, 49, 55)*, U.S. highways (i.e., 65, 90, 165, 167, 190), and any major state highways especially local highways (i.e., LA 1, 6, 182). Again, have students label one city/town on the highways identified.

Teacher Note: Denote to students that interstate highways are numbered with even numbers from east to west routes and odd numbers from north to south routes.

Use Microsoft Word for the students to write their descriptions of relationship between waterways/roadways and towns/cities.

Website List:

A fully zoomable Louisiana road map is available at: http://www.dotd.state.la.us/maps/2004_Official_Louisiana_Highway_Map.PDF.

Students should type their directions and landmarks into MS Word documents.

Louisiana state map sites:

http://www.netstate.com/states/maps/la_maps.htm

http://wwwlamap.doa.state.la.us/

2000 Census information

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22000.html

Web Resources:

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Home

This article and its subsections will be used in multiple Units and Activities.