Curated OER
Hit The Trail
Young historians research one of the most colorful periods in US History: the cattle drives of the 1800's. They research the three most popular trails, and complete mapping and writing assignments about each one. The instructional...
Curated OER
Cattle Trails
Students identify and locate cattle trails on a globe. In this map skill lesson, students use a marker to locate Texas and Montana and use the map scale to calculate the distance of the cattle trail.
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Great West and the Agriculture Revolution
What comes to mind when you think of the 1860's - other than the Civil War? Paired with The American Pageant textbook (or not), this series of images completes a lecture on the mid-19th century. Cattle trails, Indian wars, and explosions...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Beef Moves to Nebraska
Just how long was the Long Drive? Learners investigate the movement of cattle in the Great Plains during the mid-1800s. They incorporate photographic, newspaper, video, and primary source evidence into their posters, artwork, and written...
Curated OER
Integrated Lesson Plan
An ambitious and engaging lesson on the Westward Movement for your students to enjoy! Groups of learners rotate between learning tasks such as learning about the Chislom Trail, Lewis and Clark, and the Gold Rush. A WebQuest is also...
Curated OER
Making a Brand for Ourselves the "Cowboy" Way
Students define cowboys and learn about their roles on rangelands. For this rangeland lesson, students define cowboys and cowgirls and complete a KWL chart. Students read Cattle Kids and Til the Cows Come Home. Students visit the Diamond...
Curated OER
Rise of Ranching
Fourth graders explore the history of ranching in the southwest. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders discuss the history of ranching. They view a video about ranching and discuss cattle drives. Students read about the Chisholm...
Curated OER
The American West-Knowledge Test
In this American West instructional activity, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on instructional activity.