Reversing the Flow of the
Chicago River: An Engineering Marvel or Environmental Catastrophe?
Matt Buckles
AHTC Summer Fellowship 2009
National Archives and Records
Administration, Chicago, IL
To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.
Lesson 1: Humans and Rivers; Chicago River
Pollution
Procedure:
á
As
students arrive in class, they should answer the question, ÒWhat are the
functions of rivers?Ó in their notebooks independently.
á
After
a couple minutes, we will discuss answers in class, and contrast their roles
for the environment and society.
Students will use the graphic organizer to record notes.
á
Discuss
bottom of chart – human impacts on the natural process of rivers. Example of human-environment
interaction – define as a class.
á
Using
chart, discuss natural purpose and process of rivers and tributaries. Use Google Earth to show Chicago
River. Original flow into lake,
explain that it was reversed, and connects to Illinois River and flows to
Mississippi (example for Graphic Organizer).
á
Show
photos of Union Stock Yards. Production center of Chicago – waste dumping from the
yards. Project designed to reverse
river from that point to Lake Michigan
á
In
pairs, students will analyze dumping article with analysis worksheet. Class will conclude with a discussion
of the author of the document – the source for most of the documents for
the unit.
