LP+Rail,+Road,+and+Runway


 * Standard 4. ** Students will understand the diverse ways people make a living in Utah.
 * Objective 3.** Examine aspects that have broadened Utah’s economy.
 * Indicator a.** Examine the railroad’s impact on Utah.


 * Lesson: Rail, Road, and Runway **


 * Vocabulary:**
 * Crossroads of the West


 * Essential Questions:**
 * Can Utah legitimately be called the "Crossroads of the West"?
 * How do goods move into, within, and out of Utah?
 * What kinds of jobs directly and indirectly relate to the movement of goods in and through Utah, and to the Utah economy?


 * Instructional Activities:**


 * **Discussion**: Does it seem like there are a lot of trucks on Utah's roads? Are there places in Utah where there seem to be more semis than cars?
 * Show the map of Interstate highways and discuss the concept of Utah as Crossroads of the West, both historically and currently.
 * Utah has nearly twice the national average for trucks as a percentage of total road traffic. Why would there be so many trucks in this area? (There are more places that are only accessible by that method rather than rail, water, air, etc.)
 * Use the map to show the options for a loaded truck that is carrying goods:
 * It is carrying goods within Utah.
 * It is carrying goods from somewhere else to Utah.
 * It is carrying goods from Utah to somewhere outside.
 * It is passing through Utah.
 * **Discussion**: If you were able to pull over a truck and see what was inside, what do you think they would be hauling?
 * Review the table showing the types of goods being imported and exported by truck in Utah. (Secondary traffic refers to goods that are being moved or stored, such as trucks going to WalMart stores.)
 * Discussion: Trucks haul about 59% of the goods (by weight) into, within, and out of Utah. However, what other forms of transportation move goods as well? (Pipelines = 26%, Rails = 15, Air = less than 1%) (Even the seaports in California contribute indirectly to these modes of transport.)
 * Discussion: Salt Lake is home to a fairly new facility called the Intermodal Hub. Shipping containers from California are loaded onto trains and they are unloaded and transferred to trucks at this hub. Regional trains and buses also use this center as a place to pick up passengers. It is located fairly near the intersection of I-15 and I-80, near the airport.
 * Discussion: These different modes of transportation require a wide range of support jobs, such as warehousing, fuel supply, etc. Discuss the different kinds of jobs that are related to the transportation of goods throughout Utah. How do these jobs support the total state economy beyond simply gas taxes or driver income?
 * Introduce the interview assignment, which is to interview someone whose employment is related in some way to the movement of freight or material in Utah about what they do and how their work contributes directly and indirectly to the economy of Utah. It would be nice to have the student record the interview and edit it to bring out the important features.


 * Assessment:**
 * Student interviews
 * Test Question: What makes Utah the Crossroads of the West?


 * Materials / Resources for Teachers:**
 * []


 * Materials / Resources for Students:**