InstructorWeb  

MISSISSIPPI LESSON PLAN RIVER EXPLORERS PRIMARY TEACHING READING COMPREHENSION LEARNING US HISTORY ELEMENTARY UNITED STATES SOCIAL STUDIES STUDENTS EDUCATION CURRICULUM KIDS THEME UNIT RESOURCES ACTIVITY

 

 

 

 

A reading lesson on the Mighty Mississippi River.
 

THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER LESSON

 

A reading comprehension lesson on the Mighty Mississippi. The lesson includes a brief history on the Mississippi, commerce along the river, the natural Mississippi river habitats, and problems that occur as a result of adaptations man has made to the river. Includes printable teaching lesson worksheet.

 

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade - 6th Grade

 

 

Teaching Objectives:

By completing this lesson, students will be able to demonstrate their reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.

 

 

 

 

 

THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI LESSON

 

Directions:

Print the Mighty Mississippi reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

 

Students should read the story silently, then answer the questions about the story that follow.

 

Excerpt from passage

Through the heart of North Americas runs a great river. You may have heard it called "The Mighty Mississippi", "Big River", or even "Old Man River". No matter what you choose to call it, the Mississippi River is one of the greatest rivers in the world. It is over 2300 miles long, making it the second longest river in the United States.

 

The Mississippi River begins as a tiny stream at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and ends in the Gulf of Mexico on the coast of Louisiana. At least thirty-one states form the river basin and water from these states drains into the Mississippi. The Mississippi River Basin covers about 41% of the United States! The River is divided into three segments: the Headwaters, the Upper Mississippi River, and the Lower Mississippi River. Along its path it supports thousands of lakes, tributaries, large rivers, flood plains, wetlands and estuaries.

A Little Big River History

The Mississippi has a unique history. The North American Indians called it "Messipi" which means "Big River". The first white man to reach the river was Hernando de Soto in 1541. He called the river "Rio de Espiritu Santo" or "River of the Holy Spirit". In the 1600s, the French discovered the river and claimed the entire river for France. The French called the river "Louisiana" named after their king Louis XIV.

In the two hundred years that followed, the United States became a nation and claimed the area for itself. The Mississippi and its connecting rivers became major transportation routes. People, goods, livestock, and timber were transported to towns that were springing up all along the river. The land surrounding the river was very fertile and was used to grow crops and raise livestock. (continued...)

 

 

 

LESSON PRINTABLES

The Mighty Mississippi

Print this worksheet for this reading lesson.

 Includes reading comprehension passage, questions, and answers.

 

 

 

 

More Social Studies, American History, and Geography Lesson Plans and Worksheets

 

 

For more teaching material, lesson plans, lessons, and worksheets please go back to the InstructorWeb home page.
 

Mississippi River US History Reading Lesson Plan Activities Fact Childhood Info - Children -  Kid - Primary Education - Child Teachers Free - Second Grade - Third Grade -Fourth Grade - Fifth Grade - Sixth Grade - Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan Worksheet

 

© 2002-2006 InstructorWeb