Despite the difficulty of travel, the US expanded significantly between the 1800s and the early 1900s. To prepare for a performance task assessment on the rapid expansion of the US in the 1800s, class members engage in a write-pair-share activity and compare the way people travel today with the modes of transportation available 150 years ago.

Concepts

the transcontinental railroad

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Additional Tags

transcontinental railroad, modes of travel, expansion of america, social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Consider adding additional maps that overlay the route of the transcontinental railroad on the states and territories as of 1850

Pros

• The activity is designed to provide all learners with the vocabulary and concepts they need to be successful on the assessment

Cons

• Additional maps, including one that shows the route of the transcontinental railroad and the expanded territories, would model the relationship between transportation and expansion