Free 8th Grade Federeal Railroad Administration Lesson Plan

Topic: The Federal RailRoad Administration and its Role in Transportation

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand the reason for building the railroad, its impact on communication, and the types and uses for rail cars.

Materials

• Maps or images of railroads
• Examples of different types of rail cars (e.g. freight cars, passenger cars, caboose)
• Handouts with information about the Federal RailRoad Administration and its role in transportation

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever taken a train ride or traveled by car on a highway that has rail tracks.
• Ask students if they know why railroads are built and what benefits they provide.

Direct Instruction

• Show the students pictures of different types of railroads, such as freight and passenger.
• Explain that the Federal RailRoad Administration (FRA) is a government agency that is responsible for regulating and overseeing the country's railroads.
• Discuss the reasons for building railroads, such as connecting cities and regions, reducing travel time, and transporting goods and people.
• Discuss the impact of railroads on communication, including the telegraph and telephone.
• Explain the different types of rail cars and their uses, such as freight cars for carrying goods and passenger cars for traveling.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of pictures of different rail cars.
• Have the students work together to identify the purpose of each car and explain its use.
• Bring the groups back together and have them share their findings with the class.

Independent Practice

• Give each student a piece of construction paper and colored pencils.
• Have the students create a detailed model of a rail car using the construction paper and colored pencils.
• Encourage the students to be creative and add their own personal touch to their models.

Closure

• Have the students share their rail car models with the class and explain the details and features they included in their designs.
• Review the main points of the lesson, including the purpose and types of rail cars, and the importance of the railway in transportation and communication.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided and independent practice activities to assess their understanding of the material.
• Collect and review the students' rail car models for accuracy and detail.