New! Mississippi River 101

The Mississippi River, North America's largest, spans from Lake Itasca to New Orleans, draining water from 31 states and delivering over 5 million gallons per second to the Gulf of Mexico. Learn about the river's role in providing drinking water, hydropower, and flood control, as well as following the journey of a raindrop from Yellowstone to the Gulf. Explore the river's human and cultural history, including early navigation, types of boats, and the impact of locks and dams on commerce and the environment.

Grades: 4-6

Main Objective Question:

Main Objective Question: Why is the Mississippi River the most important river in North America? Name 3 key reasons.

Main Standard(s):  
2P.4.2.2.1 - How Minnesota American Indian Tribes and communities and other cultures apply knowledge of the natural world 
3.3.1.1.1 - Create and use various kinds of maps
4.3.4.9.1 - Explain how humans adapt to and/or modify the physical environment 
4E.4.2.1.1 - Describe how energy and fuels are derived from natural resources 
5L.4.1.2.1 - Evaluate the merit of a solution to a problem caused by changes in plant and animal populations as a result of environmental changes.

Organization: National Park Service