The Northwest Passage Grades 6-8 Introduction European and North American governments and merchants expended a tremendous amount of effort during the 16 th through 19 th centuries in the quest to find a Northwest Passage through North America to the Pacific. Students will examine several maps to determine whether the Northwest Passage was easy to find and whether it was a viable trade route. Time Frame: 2-3 class periods Objectives and Standards Students will: Draw European trade routes to Asia. Analyze a map of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and explain whether Lewis and Clark's route would be an easy trade route across the continent. Draw the "real" Northwest Passage through northern Canada. Look at an Arctic map, and explain whether the Northwest Passage would make a practical trade route. Explain why the Northwest Passage wasn't navigated until the early 20 th century. National Social Studies Standards: 2: Time, Continuity, and Change: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time. 3: People, Places, and Environments: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments. National Geography Standards: 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective. 7: The physical processes that shape the Earth's surface. 11: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface. 17: How to apply geography to interpret the past. Maps and Materials Needed World Outline Map:
2293:world&cid=91:outline (one copy for each student or pair of students; Louisiana Purchase Map: 2861:louisiana-purchase-main-exploration-routes-1804-1807&cid=83:history (one copy for each student or pair of students; Canada Outline Map: 14527:canada&cid=95:outline (one copy for each student or pair of students; Arctic Region Map: 3373:arctic-region&cid=169:world (one copy for each student or pair of students; Extension Have students create HyperStudio, PowerPoint, or poster presentations about the history of the Northwest Passage, including information on its geography, the challenges that explorers faced in trying to navigate it, and the reasons Europeans and Americans wanted to find it. Procedure 1. Introduce students to the idea of the Northwest Passage. Tell them that 16th through 19th century Europeans and Americans were very eager to find a quicker way to get to Asia, and they were hoping for a Northwest passage through the North American continent. Refer to a world wall map as you illustrate these points. 2. Give each student or pair of students a world outline map =2293:world&cid=91:outline), and discuss why they think it would have been helpful for Europeans and early Americans of the Atlantic Seaboard to have known about the Northwest Passage. Ask them to draw the trade routes that Europeans would have needed to use to get to Asia, assuming they didn't know about the Northwest Passage. They will draw routes from Europe around South America and Africa into Asia. 3. Give each student or pair of students a copy of the Louisiana Purchase map =2861:louisiana-purchase-main-exploration-routes-1804-1807&cid=83:history), or have them look at this map on the computer. Tell students that in 1803 President Thomas Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark expedition across the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory in part to see if they could find the Northwest Passage. Have students look at the map and explain whether they think the Lewis and Clark route would have satisfied the quest for the Northwest Passage. In section 1 of the handout, have students list at least six geographical features that they notice along the
Lewis and Clark route. Then have them explain whether they think this would be an easy trade route. 4. Give students copies of the Canada outline map =14527:canada&cid=95:outline). Ask them to draw the route by which one can travel by sea from the Atlantic to the Pacific (the Northwest Passage). 5. Pass out copies of the Arctic Region Map =3373:arctic-region&cid=169:world), or have students look at this map on the computer. In section 2 of the handout, have them refer to this map and explain whether they think the Northwest Passage would make a practical route for commerce and trade. What geographical features do they notice about this route? What might be some problems with using this route on a regular basis? 6. Tell students that the passage wasn't even navigated until 1903-1906, by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Then ask them to use the Internet and/or the library to research the reasons why this was the case, or provide them with a handout that contains the answer to this question (you might give them an encyclopedia entry about the Northwest Passage, for example). Have them write their responses in section 3 of the handout. Their answers should include information from the maps they've studied in this lesson. Assessment Suggestions Check to make sure that students have: Accurately drawn trade routes from Europe to Asia. Completed section 1 of the handout, demonstrating a careful examination of the Lewis and Clark route, listing at least six geographical features, and clearly explaining whether they believe the route would have been easy for trade. Accurately drawn the Northwest Passage on the Canada outline map. Completed section 2 of the handout, citing observations from the satellite map and clearly explaining their assessment of the Northwest Passage's trade capabilities. Completed section 3 of the handout, providing evidence from the maps and clearly explaining their answer.
Student Handout 1. Look at the Louisiana Purchase map =2861:louisiana-purchase-main-exploration-routes-1804-1807&cid=83:history). Do you think the Lewis and Clark route found an acceptable Northwest Passage? List at least six geographical features that you notice along the Lewis and Clark route: Now explain whether you think this would be an easy trade route. 2. Look at the Arctic Region Map =3373:arctic-region&cid=169:world). Do you think the Northwest Passage would make a practical route for commerce and trade? What geographical features do you notice about this route? What might be some problems with using this route on a regular basis? 3. The Northwest Passage wasn't even navigated until 1903-1906, by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Use the Internet and/or the library to find out why. Your
answers should include information from the maps you've studied in this lesson Write your answers in the space below: