Okay, so we didn't really visit the Erie Canal (someday...) but we did make a model of it! We've been learning about westward expansion of the US and how the Erie Canal played a part. We had a lot of fun making our own canal and learning about canal locks. We even talked about how Grandpa worked at the Soo Locks in Michigan! We got this project idea from a book called Going West!. The basic supplies:
Mama uses the box cutter...
We taped 3 juice cartons together,
then used binder clips to hold the locks shut.
Next we filled the locks with water... 
...and tested our canal with a little barge of farm animals!
The girls operated the sluice gate (cap of the juice carton)
to equalize the water levels before opening the lock
to let the barge through.
to let the barge through.
