A River Runs Through It (8th grade)
Big Idea: The History and Uses of the Savannah River.
SS8H2: Students will analyze the colonial period of Georgia’s history
a. Explain the importance of James Oglethorpe, the Charter of 1732, reasons for settlement (charity, economics, and defense), Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove and
the city of Savannah.
SS8H5: Students will explain significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as part of the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840.
b. Explain how technological developments, include the cotton gin/ railroads, had impact on Georgia’s growth.
SS8E1: Students will give examples of the kinds of goods and services produced in Georgia in different historical periods.
SS8E2: Students will explain the benefits of free trade.
a. Describe how Georgians have engaged in trade in different historical time periods.
b. Explain how the four transportation systems from SS8G2 contribute to Georgia’s role in trade.
SS8E3: Students will evaluate the influence of Georgia’s economic growth and development.
a. Define profit and describe how profit is an incentive for entrepreneurs.
b. Explain how entrepreneurs take risks to develop new goods and services to start a business.
S8G1: Students will describe Georgia with regard to physical features and location.
a. Locate Georgia in relation to region, nation, continent, and hemispheres
b. Describe the five geographic regions of Georgia; include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
c. Locate and evaluate the importance of key physical features on the development of Georgia; include the Fall Line, Okefenokee Swamp, Appalachian
Mountains, Chattahoochee, Savannah River, and barrier islands.
SS8G2: Students will explain how the Interstate Highway System, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Georgia’s deepwater ports, and the railroads
help drive the state’s economy.
a. Explain how the four transportation systems interact to provide domestic & international goods to the people of Georgia.
b. Explain how the four transportation systems interact to provide producers and service providers in Georgia with national and international markets.
c. Explain how the four transportation systems provide jobs for Georgians
Essential Questions
What are the economic uses of the Savannah River, including slavery and how have they changed over time?
How has trade using Georgia’s ports and railroads grown and changed over time to provide goods, services and jobs to the state of Georgia?
How has the Savannah River been a part of the maritime history of Georgia?
What are examples of goods and services produced in Georgia during different historical time periods?
Who is James Oglethorpe and what influenced his choice to use Savannah for the colonization of Georgia?
How did the invention of the cotton gin and development of railroads impact Georgia’s growth and economy?
What is profit and how do entrepreneurs use it as an incentive as they take risks starting a new business?
Essential Topical Understandings Students will use the history and uses of the Savannah River to compare its’ economic impact and influence on the colonization,
growth and development of Savannah and Georgia. They will discuss the rivers’ involvement in the slave trade and explore the maritime history of the area, including the
various ships used in economic trade today. They will also discuss the effect that the changes and growth of the ports, railroads and technology, such as the invention of
the cotton gin, has had on Georgia’s goods, services and jobs. Additionally, they will look at entrepreneurship and profit as incentive when starting a new business.
Key Vocabulary Economy, Trade, Profit, Cotton Gin, Entrepreneur, Domestic, International , Import, Export, Savannah River, Barrier Island, Slavery, James
Oglethorpe, Goods and Services, Ballast, Liberty Ships, Port, Georgia Ports Authority, Dredging, S. S. Savannah, Coastal Plain
Student Outcomes:
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I can explain the economic uses of the Savannah River, including slavery and discuss how they have changed over time.
I can describe how Georgia’s ports and railroads are used for trade and how they have changed over time to provide goods, services and jobs to Georgia.
I can give examples of how the Savannah River has been as part of Georgia’s maritime history.
I can identify examples of goods and services produced in Georgia throughout history.
I can discuss the importance of James Oglethorpe and why he chose Savannah for the colonization of Georgia.
I can summarize how the invention of the cotton gin and development of the railroads impact Georgia’s growth and economy.
I can explain the meaning of profit and how entrepreneurs use it as an incentive as they take risks starting a new business.
Resources for Background and Pre/Post Activities
 http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/savannah-river (history of Savannah river and its’ uses)
 http://www.propellerclubsavannah.com/index_files/Page426.htm (history of the port of Savannah)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFz9ZUoZflg (you-tube video on the steamship S. S. Savannah)
 http://ss8h9.wordpress.com/coast/brunswick-and-savannah-shipyards/ (information and you-tube video on Liberty Ships)
 http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/atlantic-slave-trade-savannah (history of slave trade in Savannah port)
 www.gaports.com/ (history, statistics, videos and other information on Georgia Ports Authority)
 http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/cotton_gin/pages/reading.html (history of cotton gin and links to video/activities)