Scholastic
The Rise of Railroads: Illinois
Railways not only cross the US, but they are also intertwined with the history of America. Using a timeline format, individuals explore the connections between major events in American history—such as the Civil War—and the rise of the...
Scholastic
The Rise of Railroads: California
Railways are an integral part of the history of California. Using a timeline format, class members connect major historical events to the rise of the railroads and their impact on the state. Activities include a mix of independent and...
Curated OER
Town Growth and Immigration
Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time. They explain reasons why people settled/settle in Michigan, then explain the role of geography on the settlement of Michigan.
Curated OER
The Railroads in Texas
Seventh graders differentiate between, locate, and use primary and secondary sources, such as biographies from the Handbook of Texas. They analyze the effects of scientific discoveries and technological innovations, such as the railroad,...
Curated OER
The Railroads: The First Transcontinental Railroad
The move West was greatly effected by the first transcontinental railroad. Present your class with well-organized information regarding major causes, players, and effects the railroad had on the face of an expanding America. Note: A...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Industry Comes of Age
Three interesting slides can be a good addition to your lecture on the end of the 19th century. Detailing the land grants given to railroads, the shift in cotton manufacturing, and the distribution of industry among the United States,...
Curated OER
Strawberry Girl: Lesson 3 - Trains, Sails, and Trails
Students read two chapters of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and complete activities about Florida's transportation history. In this literacy and economics lesson, students read two chapters of the book, talk about their journal entries,...
Curated OER
Railroads
Students make travel plans. For this transportation lesson, students determine whether trains, planes, or buses are best to get them a city 500 miles from their hometown.
Curated OER
Working on the Railroad
Students plan a trip on the railroad. In this railroad creation and implementation lesson, students listen to the song "Working on the Railroad", make a map of where the track was laid and discuss the geographical challenges. Students...
Curated OER
Site and Situation: Right Place at the Right Time
Students analyze geographic details. In this research skills lesson, students research maps as well as primary and secondary sources to analyze growth, population, and manufacturing in Altoona, Pennsylvania following World War II....
Curated OER
All Aboard! Railroad Transportation
Students create a picture of a train. For this train lesson, students read Freight Trainand discuss the trains that they see. Students discuss what it would feel like to be a train and play a game where they pretend to be a train. They...
Curated OER
The Wild, Wild West
Sixth graders research the history of the transcontinental railroad. They use advertising propaganda techniques to design and create a poster encouraging people to explore the West by rail.
Curated OER
Riding the Rails Across Texas
Students research the importance of the railroad to Texas cities and American life. They identify the pros and cons of railroads, locate railroads in Texas cities using the Texas bird's-eye view website, and write a newspaper article.
Curated OER
Railroads across the Country
Students see how to read and trace transcontinental routes on a nineteenth-century railroad map of the United States. They identify their home city or a nearby city on the core map and explain how railroads helped travelers back in the...
Curated OER
The Impact of Railroads on Two Antebellum Communities
Young scholars investigate primary documents to summarize the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution, along with new inventions and industrial production methods.
Curated OER
Altoona Horseshoe Curve: A Vital Link
Students explain the significance of the Horseshoe Curve. For this railroad lesson students reconstruct elements of a German plot to destroy the Horseshoe Curve.
Curated OER
Unique Landforms
Students create a travel route among different landforms and way the cost and benefits of traveling this way. In this traveling lesson plan, students work in groups and analyze their conclusions.
Curated OER
Read a Transportation Story
Third graders research the building of a transcontinental road. In this railroad history lesson, 3rd graders discuss past and present transportation. Students look at historical photos and compare and contrast photos from today.
Curated OER
Industrial Revolution
Seventh graders research how the Industrial Revolution impacted people. In this Industrial Revolution lesson, 7th graders examine how the change from shop or cottage industry to the factory affected people, how the railroad affected...
Curated OER
American West: Railroads
In these American West worksheets, students cut out the cards related to the American West and the railroads. Students match the cards together.
Curated OER
Planning A Railroad Online Lesson
Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...
Curated OER
Railroad Crossing Ahead
In this railroad crossing worksheet, learners study and color a large black line drawing of the railroad crossing road sign. There are no directions or words on the page.
Curated OER
USH Industrialization: The effects of the railroads
Eleventh graders interpret a time zone map and describe the effects of the railroads. They discuss what a continent is, what you think it means if something is transcontinental and offer descriptions about some different inventions from...
Curated OER
American Journeys: California
Fourth graders work through a series of lessons to study the state of California. They participate in a geography journey lesson, poetry lesson, a research lesson, and examine the rise of railroads in California. For each lesson, they...