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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 3

Compare Perspectives and Change

Third graders study two big changes to Illinois waterways, the Illinois and Michigan Canal (finished 1848) and the reversal of the Chicago River (1900), from several points of view. They compare sources whose authors saw the same event differently, sort changes from continuities, and judge who gained and who lost from a change.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 85 minutes
  • Perspectives and change check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order, sort into groups and true or false
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Explain why people living at the same time had different perspectives on the same event or change.
  • Compare two sources about the same event and explain how each author's perspective shaped what they wrote.
  • Describe change and continuity over time and evaluate who benefited and who was harmed by a change.

Lessons

  1. One canal, many points of view 4 steps2 practiceabout 22 min
  2. Comparing two sources 5 steps3 practiceabout 22 min
  3. Turning a river around 3 steps2 practiceabout 20 min
  4. Change, continuity and who was affected 4 steps2 practiceabout 21 min
  5. Perspectives and change check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 3rd grade social studies

Guide for grown-ups