Classroom Visits
Friends’ classroom visits are a wonderful way to start your Chicago River unit. A Friends staff person or volunteer will come to your school to share the history of the Chicago River with your students. Pre- and post-lessons are available for certain programs. Programs are 45 minutes long, but can be tailored to your class length. To schedule a classroom visit, contact us.
Kindergarten through Second Grade
Students take an imaginary journey in a time machine, travelling to important places and times in the Chicago River’s history. Complete with sound effects, images, “visits” from people who lived long ago, and little gifts to remind students of their journey. Students have a wonderful, interactive experience.
Pre-lessons:
What is a River? (165k PDF)
Times Have Changed (53k PDF)
This lesson includes photos that you will need to download separately:
Times Have Changed Photos 1 (583k PDF)
Times Have Changed Photos 2 (770k PDF)
Post-lessons:
The Chicago River’s Journey Through Time (145k PDF)
Third and Fourth Grade
Students create a map of ecological and cultural change along the Chicago River using images depicting life throughout the centuries. By working together, students develop an understanding of how this area developed.
Pre-lessons:
Rivers through Time (138k PDF)
Post-lessons:
Connecting Land and Water - Watersheds and Non-point Source Pollution (157k PDF)
Bring the history of the Chicago River to your classroom by scheduling a Chicago River classroom program.
Fifth and Sixth Grade
Students create land use maps that track the changes in the Chicago River watershed. By comparing the maps, students gain an understanding of how natural areas and farms have disappeared to make way for urban expansion.
Pre-lessons:
What is a Watershed? (187k PDF)
Erosion: Natural or Unnatural? (209k PDF)
What are Maps for? (165k PDF)
Post-lessons:
Choices Make a Difference (171k PDF)
More with Chicago River Maps (83k PDF)
Seventh and Eighth Grade
Students uncover what natural resources and amenities helped fuel the birth and rapid expansion of the greater Chicago area. By filling in their own timelines, students track this amazing development and its impact on the Chicago River.
Pre-lessons:
Getting a Sense of Time (184k PDF)
What is a Watershed? (187k PDF)
Post-lessons:
This lesson includes three articles and maps that you will need to download separately.
Backwards Goes It Does (5-8) (235k PDF)
Location Article (727k PDF)
Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Article (727k PDF)
Is Chicago a Swamp? (440k PDF)
Reference Map (129k PDF)
River Template (197k PDF)
High School
Historic photos, maps and diagrams illustrate the fascinating and disturbing events that occurred during the Chicago River’s history. A discussion of current problems facing the Chicago River and how students have become involved follows.
Pre-lessons:
What is a Watershed? (187k PDF)
Post-lessons:
This lesson includes three articles and maps that you will need to download separately.
Backwards Goes It Does (9-12) (235k PDF)
Location Article (727k PDF)
Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Article (727k PDF)
Is Chicago a Swamp? (440k PDF)
Reference Map (129k PDF)
Become a Friend