Classroom Activities
These lessons are based on the Public TV documentary America’s Main Street: I-80. Although there may not be time to use the entire documentary during class, short excerpts from the film are available to screen or download online. Educators can use these lessons as they teach about American geography and history, as well as economics and social studies. Off-air recordings and downloaded files can be used free-of-charge beginning November 1, 2026 through November 30, 2029.
What is the history of the interstate highway system? (click to see video)
CHOICES AND ROADS
Highways have always played a major role in the economic and social life of the communities they travel through and connect. What impact did they have on your town? Positive? Negative? Both? Neither?
Directions
Imagine you and your classmates are part of a reporting team at an area TV station. The group was given the assignment to create a story about a local highway. Different parts of the class will “report” on different aspects of the story.
One group will investigate what community life was like before the highway was built.
A second team will explore the impact the highway is having today.
The third group will study possible developments, good and bad, that might take place in the near future.
How are important roads and highways maintained? (click to see video)
After watching a portion of America’s Main Street: I-80, the three groups will work independently for 20 minutes, discovering and organizing lists of key facts they collected during their research. As this is for TV news, they must also identify images that help visualize important aspects of the story.
Next, in the remaining minutes, the three groups will work together to write the script for a three-minute TV news story, incorporating both the key “takeaways” as well as key visual elements.
The final step is for a member of the class to read aloud the “script” the groups developed.
This activity can also be used as a “take home” assignment, with the groups working outside of regular class hours. Upon completion, each group will “report” their findings via a PowerPoint presentation in class, which will include relevant images. Following the presentations, the class will discuss their findings.
Discussion
Building new streets and roadways changes the community where this construction is taking place. Do the new economic opportunities promised by these changes outweigh the destruction of existing homes, businesses and neighborhoods?
Research Resources
Want to see the full documentary America’s Main Street: I-80? (click to see video)
