CATOCTIN FURNACE MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN – Iron Industry Knowledge Transfer from Africa – Lesson Unit
Middle School history curriculums in the United States do not include an exploration of knowledge transfer of iron working skills from Africa as part of the TransAtlantic slave trade. Catoctin Furnace Historical Society intern Dana Gordon has developed a lesson plan for Middle Schoolers that tackles this subject as part of a larger exploration of the iron industry and the role of enslaved African Americans in the Industrial Revolution. Of all the factors that contributed to the industrial might of 20th-century America, none was more important than the development of a flourishing iron industry. This lesson plan introduces the diverse and skilled workforce of the iron industry and the importance of enslaved and free artisans in the industry.
Collier’s Log Cabin: Student Field Trip Activities for Kitchen Garden and Pollinator Garden
This lesson plan was provided by the Green-walled Garden Club as a STEM project for Frederick County Public School students visiting Catoctin Furnace. This program is aimed at 4th grade students, but can be amended to fit students of any grade. Focusing on the kitchen and pollinator gardens at the Collier’s Log House, these activities were developed by educators for the purpose of exploring the gardens and insects, including herbs and butterflies. The mini-lessons are based on Harvard University’s Project Zero Thinking Routines, specifically, See, Think, Wonder, through which students observe, interpret, and inquire. The lessons are also based on the Maryland STEM Standards of Practice. CFHS and the Green-walled Garden Club hope this is a project that will be shared for years at Catoctin Furnace, an integral part of Frederick County, Maryland, and US history.