Linda Vaianella (Inspiration)
Grade Level 4
Boyle Road Elementary School
The Orphan Train

Overview

The Orphan Train is a little-known facet of American history. This lesson will help the children become familiar with the facts concerning the Orphan Train. 


Standards

Students will read stories about the Orphan Train riders and the period of time in which the Children’s Aid Society began it’s work. They will discuss the values, practices and traditions that brought about the development of the Orphan Train. This is aligned with the New York State learning standards.

Skills

1. Literary interpretation
2. Critical thinking
3. Inference


Materials needed

1. Inspiration
2. Internet

Preparation

1. Create questions for the children based on the 5Ws. 
2. Using Inspiration program, link each question to the appropriate web site.
3. Provide the students with an opinion question to answer.

On the computer

1. Have students read the questions and open the linked web sites.
2. Students will read and interpret the information on the web site.
3. Students enter their answers as sub-topics to each questions
4. Students write their opinions of the Orphan Train as a sub-topic to the final question.


Follow-up activities

1. Students will present their opinions to the class.
2. Students will categorize their sub-topics as a preliminary to writing an informational essay.