The development of canals

This is a whole lessons activity on the coming of canals during the Industrial Revolution.
Use the powerpoint to encourage students to define the word canalmania, and to decide the biggest problems that the canalbuilders faced in the 1780s/90s.
The worksheet can be done as a card sort or a cut and stick activity. Students must decide which of the pieces of information are advantages and disadvantages. They must then, as an extension, decide which relate to:
a) money,
b) transporting people/things,
c) others.

Students then answer the question on the final slide of the powerpoint. This can lead to a piece of extended writing for more able students, or as a more broken down set of answers for the less able. There is plenty of scope for discussion throughout the lesson.