Class: 5th–6th / P6-P7
Objective: Students will learn about the daily life of a boatman on the Grand Canal 100 years ago.
Materials:
StoryMap: The Boatman’s Journey
Printable worksheets (timeline of a boatman’s day)
Video clips or animations from the StoryMap
Notebook or journal

Lesson Outline:

Introduction (10 mins)

• Briefly introduce the Grand Canal and its historical importance.
• Discuss the role of boatmen in transporting goods and their lifestyle.

Explore the StoryMap (15 mins)

• Guide students through relevant sections of the StoryMap.
• Highlight key aspects of the journey: living conditions, meals, and challenges.
• Show animations of the barge interior.

Activity: Diary Entry (25 mins)

• Hand out the worksheet: A timeline of a boatman’s typical day.
• Ask students to write a diary entry imagining they are a boatman. Include:
  • Morning duties
  • Challenges faced on the canal
  • Interactions with others

Wrap-Up (10 mins)

• Volunteers read their diary entries aloud.
• Discuss similarities and differences in how students imagined the experience.