Great Lakes Learning: Take a cruise and learn about the lakes

As the author of Great Lakes Now’s Collection of Lesson Plans, educational consultant Gary Abud Jr. is now providing more support for parents, teachers and caregivers who want to incorporate Great Lakes learning into their time with children and students. His series of writings can be found HERE along with the lesson plans and a Virtual Field Trip.

Lake cruises have become an iconic summer travel opportunity in the Great Lakes region.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is canceling this season’s fun, you can still use the Great Lakes cruise ships’ routes and itineraries with your youngsters to help them learn about the region.

Here are some opportunities for online learning and discussion:

• Know what to expect when you’re expecting to take a cruise in the Great Lakes
• Jump aboard the lake cruise experience in this segment from Great Lakes Now
• Learn about America’s Great Loop from NOAA and the vital role played by the Great Lakes waterways in navigating half of the U.S. by boat in this ambitious expedition

Watch the Great Lakes Now segment about a Cruise Ship stop at Manitoulin Island:

Sketch the Routes

One of our introductory lessons in our Great Lakes Learning collection has students explore the lakes using Google Earth by mapping out path(s) of travel through the Great Lakes waterways on several expeditions between destinations.

As they complete each expedition, they should sketch out and label the path they took in a notebook, listing the individual rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water they had to travel through in order to complete the expedition. You can try this activity at home by having your child complete at least three expeditions (e.g., one starting destination and one final destination) of their choice from this menu of destinations:

• New York City, NY, USA
• Quebec City, QC, Canada
• Detroit, MI, USA
• Green Bay, WI, USA
• Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
• Chicago, IL, USA
• Duluth, MN, USA
• Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
• Cleveland, OH, USA

Catch up on other helpful Great Lakes Learning lessons and tips:

Great Lakes Learning: Water levels, currents and boating speed limits

Great Lakes Learning: Which is the best of the 5 Great Lakes?

Great Lakes Learning: Freshwater science for the youngest learners – Part 1

Great Lakes Learning: Freshwater science for the youngest learners – Part 2

Featured image: Victory Cruise Lines Great Lakes cruise (Great Lakes Now Episode 1005)