Curated OER
Robert Fulton and the Steamboat, "Trail of Tears"
Second graders study Fulton and his Steamboat, the "Trail of Tears," the Oregon Trail, the Transcontinental Railroad and the Pony Express in this series of lessons.
Curated OER
Goldentail's Rounding Railroad
For this number puzzle worksheet, students solve 24 equations in each of two sets of multiplication and division problems. They circle each answer and round them to the nearest whole number. They use the secret code that is shown in a...
Curated OER
Dragon's Gate
Students read Dragon's Gate as a shared literature book. This lesson provides excellent extension activities students can engage in while they are reading, and after they have finished the book.
Curated OER
Read a Transportation Story
Third graders research the building of a transcontinental road. In this railroad history lesson plan, 3rd graders discuss past and present transportation. Students look at historical photos and compare and contrast photos from today.
Curated OER
Rice Farming in Texas
Third graders explore how rice farming came to Texas. In this rice farming instructional activity, 3rd graders discover the history of how farmers began to grow rice in the United States. Students color code maps and create a timeline...
Curated OER
5th Grade Social Studies
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders complete multiple choice questions about immigrants, World War II, the Civil War, prosperity, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
Curated OER
BEGINNER LEVEL LESSON PLAN
Students are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs) for evidence of Native American culture and construct a cultural symbol. They are explained what the stars and stripes stand for on the American flag. Students work as...
Curated OER
Using and Creating Timelines
Eleventh graders analyze information presented in a timeline and then create a time line. They put the following events in order from oldest to recent: Telephone invented (1876), Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890), First transcontinental...
Curated OER
Washington Irving in Context
Students examine the various roles Washington Irving had in his lifetime. Examining the situation in Europe and the United States, they are encouraged to relate Irving's experiences to different events. They examine themselves in many...
Curated OER
Gold Rush
In this gold rush worksheet, learners utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the nation during the time period. A short answer question is included as well.
Curated OER
Westward Expansion - Fur Trade
Learners complete a unit of lessons to learn how products reach the market and study the history of the fur trade. In this history and trade instructional activity, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach...
Curated OER
California-Becoming an Agricultural and Insustrial Power
Fourth graders explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power. They trace the transformation of the California economy in its political and cultural development since the 1850's.
Curated OER
Westward Expansion
Students examine how the events that took place during the time of the Westward Expansion affected the pioneers and Native Americans through the seven lessons of this unit. Enhancements in transportation over time are also a part of the...
Curated OER
Cities as Transportation Centers
Students work in small groups to identify some of the major transportation centers, recommending two as possible sites for a national political convention, based on population density and the travel networks available in 1835.
Curated OER
Where is Rice Grown?
Fifth graders create a timeline of the development of rice as an important crop. In this agricultural history instructional activity, 5th graders read about the history behind why rice was grown and where it is grown. Students...
Curated OER
Types of Trains
Third graders explore different types of trains. In this science lesson, 3rd graders study the "Orphan Train" and write a paragraph about what it would feel like to be riding a train during this time period.
Curated OER
Read All About It
Students investigate the concept of conducting research to create a newspaper. They use tools of research to gather information. The information is interpreted while working in small groups. Then the groups write articles that can be put...
Curated OER
What's It Say Today?
Students consider important structures in their community -- specifically, those structures that have had a great impact on the history of their community.
Curated OER
Why Do You Live Where You Do?
Eighth graders identify reasons why settlers bought land from the railroad and not a Homestead grant. Using that information, they compare and contrast the types of land given in each situation. They discuss the reasons why given...
Curated OER
Social Studies Test B-Grade 5
In this grade 5 social studies test activity, 5th graders complete a 30 question multiple choice quiz covering a variety of grade 5 concepts.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: 1870 1900: The Transcontinental Railroad
Original photos and images highlighting the impact that the Transcontinental Railroad had on the lives and perspectives of Americans and Native Americans.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Comparing Travel Before and After the Transcontinental Railroad [Pdf]
Students will compare two primary accounts of overland travel in the 1860s,one by stagecoach, the other by railroad, to see how travel changed upon completion of the transcontinental railroad.
Ibis Communications
Eye Witness to History: Completing the Transcontinental Railroad, 1869
An overview of the construction of America's Transcontinental Railway, and its completion when the last spike was driven (after several misses) in Utah to connect the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railways. Travel across the...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: The Transcontinental Railroad
This sample task contains a set of primary and authentic source documents about the Transcontinental Railroad and the migration of settlers to the West.