Crossroads of Empire 2011: Fort Niagara Lesson Plan

Our Presentation1. Go through our

goals and objectives.

2. Go through the lesson.

3. Questions?

Lesson Overview Format: Document-Based Question Product: Well-constructed paragraph response Big Idea: “Place matters.”

Thomas Chambers Essential Question: Why was Fort Niagara “the key to the

continent?” Daily Objective As a result of this lesson, students will…

Students will understand how geography influences a society’s economy.

Students will be able to explain why the French, British, and Iroquois competed for the location at Niagara.

Students will be able to synthesize primary source documents and use them to construct a response.

Warm-up Activity (Done with Students)

“The importance of this place is almost inconceivable; it is the key to the whole continent.” Arthur Young, 1759

Activity:

In pairs, brainstorm what makes a place important.

Introduction to Fort Niagara (Done with Students)

French established the first post here in1679.

In 1726 France created the modern fortification with the construction of the impressive "French Castle."

Britain gained control of Fort Niagara in 1759, during the French & Indian War, after a nineteen-day siege.

Questions?