Lesson Plans for Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway

Students will understand basic structural concepts related to bridge building. They will learn about the geography of the Florida East Coast Railway, Key West Extension and the human connection to the railroad in the Florida Keys.

Across the Bridge on the Way to Key West

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Overseas Railway and will learn about different types of bridges (arch, beam, suspension, truss). They will work collaboratively to build a bridge that can hold weight.

Operation Build a New Bridge

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Overseas Railway and will learn about what life was like as a Florida East Coast Railway Worker.

Gandy Dancers: Laying Tracks

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West Extension and learn what it would have been like to ride on the train to Key West.

Train Track Time Machine

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Florida East Coast Railway and engineering methods for building a bridge foundation underwater. They will construct a cofferdam.

A Good Foundation

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Overseas Railway and will understand structural concepts related to bridge building.

Building Bridges

Objectives: Students will understand basic structural concepts related to bridge building by learning about the forces of tension and compression and how shapes aid in strengthening a structure.

Load it Up

Objectives: Students will learn about surveying and the surveying expedition that determined the route of the Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West Extension. Students will then go on a surveying expedition of their own.

How the Railroad Went to Sea

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Overseas Railway and will learn about different types of bridges (arch, beam, suspension, cable-stay, truss). They will work collaboratively to build a bridge and test it to see how it holds weight.

Bridging the Gap

Objectives: Students will be introduced to the Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West Extension and the marvel of engineering that it was. They will develop an understanding of perseverance, identify examples of it in Henry Flagler’s story and relate to the importance perseverance can play in their own lives.

How to do Something that’s Never Been Done Before