Students compare and contrast trade routes. In this trade route instructional activity, students explore the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe trail. Students compare and contrast the purposes for these trails.

Students explore geo-political and economic contexts for the European Renaissance journeys of exploration, including those of Columbus, create cartographic symbols, and add those symbols to a print-out of Ptolemy's map.

Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. In this railroad history lesson, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of railroads...