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Transcontinental Railroad Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Transcontinental Railroad educational resource ideas and activities
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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.
Second graders explore major events in history relating to westward expansion, such as inventions of railroads and steamboats, simulate day on wagon train, and examine interactions and contributions of people and cultures that migrated to western territories.
Students explore transportation. In this transportation lesson, students examine the Jupiter locomotive, Washingtion D.C. streetcars, the Leviathan, the Salisbury Train Station, and Route 66. Students respond to 12 questions.
Students explore the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze a political cartoon regarding the West and conduct further research of primary sources pertaining to the Louisiana Purchase and the transcontinental railroad.
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 families chose the community they did to live in.
Young scholars discover how the railroads contributed to the interdependence between farms and towns. Using the railroads, they describe the effect of them on western settlement and the relationship between their location and the availability of resources and markets. They discuss the arrival of the railroads to an area and how it helped to develop the region's farming industry.
Young scholars 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 together into a class newspaper.
Pupils 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 activity, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach market faster. Pupils then complete activities to learn about the history of the fur trade and its role in Westward expansion.
Eleventh graders examine a picture of John Gast's, American Progress to determine what they know about American growth between 1877- 1900. By working through thirteen center or folder activities, they study the economics, industrialization, immigration, technological change, and expansion of America. They access links that show photographs, documents, and background information about each topic.
Students investigate the concepts related to the historical events following the Civil War and Reconstruction. They use the story of a earthquake in order to create context for research and finding further comparable information.