As students identify vocabulary words that are specific to each industry, the teacher develops a list on the chalkboard. Ask students to suggest the origin of each specialized term or phrase. Developing the Lesson Inform students the waterway industry also has a special language. Organize students into teams to complete the crossword puzzle of waterway vocabulary. Use the words in the crossword puzzle to develop a pictorial dictionary of terms used in the Western Rivers towing industry.
Students use one sheet of notebook paper for each waterway term.
The term is written on the top line of the paper. A definition is given under the term. The remainder of the page is used to illustrate the meaning of the term in a drawing. The designed definition pages are organized into a book of terms. Concluding the Lesson Ask groups of students to compose a song about the American inland waterway system that uses words from the crossword puzzle vocabulary.