Transportation and Social Justice

Grade Level: 8th
Overview: Using class discussion and a power point presentation (available in Power Point and pdf format), students will explore how the federal government balances the need to maintain an efficient Interstate Highway system with the need to protect the rights and properties of all citizens through a case study of the East End Bridge Project north of Louisville. Students will consider transportation needs and cultural resources of their own community and discuss the importance of civic participation. They will use analytical skills in analyzing primary resources (a historic photograph and two maps).

Optional follow-up activities allow students to apply the essential questions to their own community and include the opportunity to conduct short research projects, write opinion pieces, and/or report on a topic to present an opinion. The lesson is particularly timely during Black History Month or when road construction, improvement, or maintenance activities (such as snow removal) are taking place in your community. The lesson can be enhanced by inviting a presenter from the Kentucky Cabinet for Transportation’s Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network (K.E.E.N.) to make a presentation to your class. Please see attached description (KEEN Bridge Building Description).

Standards Addressed (detailed bullets in lesson plan):

  • Kentucky Core Academic Standards – Big Ideas in Government and Civics
  • Common Core in English Language Arts
  • C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards, National Council for the Social Studies

Essential Questions:

  • What is the role of transportation in society?
  • How can the Constitution be changed to meet the needs of citizens?
  • How does the federal government meet its obligation to accomplish common goals and uphold the fundamental value of justice for all?

Contents:

Kentucky Highway Districts
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet divides the state into 12 highway districts to optimize building, accountability, & maintenance of the transportation systems within.

District 1
Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg Email District 1
Phone: (270) 898-2431

District 2
Caldwell, Christian, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster Email District 2
Phone: (270) 824-7080

District 3
Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, and Warren Email District 3
Phone: (270) 746-7898

District 4
Breckinridge, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington Email District 4
Phone: (270) 766-5066

District 5
Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Email District 5
Phone: (270) 766-5066

District 6
Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Bracken, Pendleton, Grant, Owen, Gallatin, Carroll, Harrison and Robertson Email District 6
Phone: (859) 341-2700

District 7
Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Mercer, Scott, and Woodford Email District 7
Phone: (859) 246-2355

District 8
Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, and Wayne Email District 8
Phone: (606) 677-4017

District 9
Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, and Rowan Email District 9
Phone: (606) 677-4017

District 10
Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, and Wolfe Email District 10
Phone: (606) 677-4017

District 11
Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, and Whitley
Email District 11
Phone: (606) 598-2145

District 12
Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Martin, and Pike
Email District 12
Phone: (606) 433-7791

This lesson plan was developed as part of the African American Heritage Interpretive Plan for Jefferson Jacob School, Jacob School Road, James Taylor Subdivision & Harrods Creek Village Jefferson County, Kentucky