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There is something mysterious and magical about the Brooklyn Bridge and the story of its origin may be where that feeling begins. |
English/Language Arts
Explore anecdotes in narrative nonfiction
Author Adkins includes an event from the life of P.T. Barnum, of circus fame, calling him a “great huckster and self-promoter.” Ask students what they think Adkins means by this description. Does the anecdote make the Minute more interesting? How is the anecdote connected to the title? Would the title have to be changed if this incident was omitted? Why or why not?
Social Studies
Explore bridges as foundations for social change
What happens to communities when bridges are built? What happened in New York? Give your students some background about New York City prior to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and let them predict the changes the bridge might bring and then verify which predictions are correct. Take a look at a world map and identify place where students think there might be a bridge, and then check to see if it exists.
STEM
Explore air and water pressure
Have some fun with science experiments to teach students about air pressure. There are five good ones here, but be warned - they require different amounts of supervision depending on the age of the students. After your students have witnessed or tried out several experiments, ask them where on Earth would the air pressure be the greatest and why? Transfer this knowledge to water pressure. What happens when you go beneath the surface? Which has more pressure, water or air? Why wouldn’t miners have problems with decompression sickness, or “the bends” when they come to the surface? Have them reread the section about how the caissons worked to see if they can figure it out.
Explore bridges
Use this Minute to explore the engineering that goes into bridge building. Look at the different types of bridges and see if students can figure out what advantages and challenges are presented by each type. Take the PBS Bridge Challenge. Challenge them to see who can build the bridge that can handle the highest load
Art
Explore architecture as art
Use this Minute to explore the art of structures like the Brooklyn bridge. Have your students compare the Brooklyn Bridge painted by Joseph Stella to Walker Evans’ photographs of the Brooklyn Bridge. How are they the same? Different? What did each artist try to capture, and how did the choice of medium allow them to do it?
Explore anecdotes in narrative nonfiction
Author Adkins includes an event from the life of P.T. Barnum, of circus fame, calling him a “great huckster and self-promoter.” Ask students what they think Adkins means by this description. Does the anecdote make the Minute more interesting? How is the anecdote connected to the title? Would the title have to be changed if this incident was omitted? Why or why not?
Social Studies
Explore bridges as foundations for social change
What happens to communities when bridges are built? What happened in New York? Give your students some background about New York City prior to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and let them predict the changes the bridge might bring and then verify which predictions are correct. Take a look at a world map and identify place where students think there might be a bridge, and then check to see if it exists.
STEM
Explore air and water pressure
Have some fun with science experiments to teach students about air pressure. There are five good ones here, but be warned - they require different amounts of supervision depending on the age of the students. After your students have witnessed or tried out several experiments, ask them where on Earth would the air pressure be the greatest and why? Transfer this knowledge to water pressure. What happens when you go beneath the surface? Which has more pressure, water or air? Why wouldn’t miners have problems with decompression sickness, or “the bends” when they come to the surface? Have them reread the section about how the caissons worked to see if they can figure it out.
Explore bridges
Use this Minute to explore the engineering that goes into bridge building. Look at the different types of bridges and see if students can figure out what advantages and challenges are presented by each type. Take the PBS Bridge Challenge. Challenge them to see who can build the bridge that can handle the highest load
Art
Explore architecture as art
Use this Minute to explore the art of structures like the Brooklyn bridge. Have your students compare the Brooklyn Bridge painted by Joseph Stella to Walker Evans’ photographs of the Brooklyn Bridge. How are they the same? Different? What did each artist try to capture, and how did the choice of medium allow them to do it?
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission
