Rebirth of Route 66

Grades 8-10

Lesson Plan Overview: Using the third episode of the three-part documentary series, Route 66: The Untold Story of the Mother Road, students will learn the history of the decline of Route 66 in the 1960s and 70s and its rebirth as a historic road and international travel destination in the 21st Century. Through oral histories, primary source analysis, and place-based activities, students will consider how communities in the West evolved to adapt to the changes brought by technology and the growing economies at the end of the 20th Century. In addition, they will learn about historic preservation efforts and how the communities and cultures along the Route continue to rebuild. The lesson also includes two research-based assessments. For one, students will use their knowledge of Route 66 to plan a trip on Route 66 for modern tourists. Students will research various locations, businesses, and people along Route 66 in order to plan and create their trip. The second assessment is a research project in which students select a historic place and create a plan for its restoration and preservation.

All materials available in Google Drive and PDF formats.

MATERIALS

  1. Presentation for Lesson Plan

  2. Worksheet Map Activity

  3. Secondary Source Reading: History & Preservation Along Route 66

  4. Primary Source Analysis

  5. Summary of Episode 3: The Rebirth of Route 66

  6. Graphic Organizer

  7. Comprehension Questions for the Episode

  8. Assessments: Writing Assignment: Historic Preservation on Route 66 & Travel Itinerary on Route 66


    RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Several states have information related to the Route in their state: 

ALIGNMENT WITH STANDARDS

ELA Common Core Standards:

  • 9-10.W.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

  • 9-10.W.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

  • 9-10.W.5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. 

  • 9-10.L.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. 

  • 9-10.RH.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.

C3 Social Studies Standards: 

  • D2.His.3.9-12: Use questions generated about individuals and groups to assess how the significance of their actions changes over time and is shaped by the historical context. 

  • D2.His.5.9-12. Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.

  • D2.Eco.5.9-12. Describe the consequences of competition in specific markets.

  • D4.6.9-12. Use disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to understand the characteristics and causes of local, regional, and global problems; instances of such problems in multiple contexts; and challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address these problems over time and place