ABOUT

Riding the J Train is a supplemental local history education resource based on exploring the histories of neighborhoods surrounding the MTA J Train line in New York City. The project’s focus is for students to discover local New York City histories and provide them with the opportunity to create a work of public history by using the Clio, an educational entry-based website.  

The educational materials will be divided into neighborhoods along the J line. These resources will include lesson plans, neighborhood primary and secondary source PDFs, histories and timelines, and a list of potential Clio entry locations. 

Geared towards supplementing the eighth-grade New York State Social Studies curriculum, lesson plans are primary source driven. Allowing students to engage in historical observation, thinking, and writing skills. The lesson plans seek to explore themes in the economic, social, and urban development of the neighborhoods located along the J train line. Educators can implement neighborhood lesson plans and resources of their choosing into their curriculum.

Moreover, by incorporating Riding the J Train, educators and students will have the opportunity to create a piece of public history by writing a Clio entry on a local historical site. An example Clio entry for Riding the J Train is the Lalance & Grosjean Manufacturing Company (1863-1955), in Woodhaven, Queens. For further information on Clio and how to utilize the website with Riding the J Train, please view the PDF below.