NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Railroads and Settlement
Have you ever wondered how your town was placed where it is? Scholars research the impact the advancement of the railroad due to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act had on the formation of civilization in the Great Plains. Map...
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...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Homestead Act Signed: Who were the Settlers?
Life in the great, wide-open spaces of the West! Scholars analyze the reasons behind the vast movement to the Great Plains after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Homestead Act. Using photographic, document, map, video, and...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Notable Nebraskan: J. Sterling Morton
What are the characteristics of an outstanding citizen? Nebraskan J. Sterling Morton contributed to the formation of societal and family values in his state. Learners gather information on Morton's life accomplishments from primary...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Homestead Act Signed: The Challenges of The Plains
Start a whole new life in a land known as the Wild Wild West! Learners analyze maps, personal accounts, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, songs, and video clips to uncover life under the Homestead Act. Using their new skills, class members role...
Smithsonian Institution
Western Indian Wars
Why do many Native Americans live on reservations? An interactive resource teaches about how reservations came to be and the tragic history behind Native Americans moving from their lands. Teenagers read passages, view images, and click...
Curated OER
Begin With a Buffalo
Pupils research native people living on the Great Plains and how they depended on the buffalo for survival and discover the many uses for their hides and other parts. They create a detailed display to show several items that were made...
Curated OER
The American Prairie
Students design an animal. In this prairie lesson, students learn about physical and behavioral adaptation, locate the Great Plains on a map, and design an animal that would be perfectly adapted for life on the prairie. Students...
Curated OER
Early Explorers
Fifth graders examine how the environment and climate affected Pre-Colombian settlements. For this civilization lesson, 5th graders view pictures of different Native American tribes in different places and discuss how different groups...
Curated OER
History of Irrigation on the Great Plains
Students explore irrigation in the Great Plains throughout history. In this irrigation lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the history of irrigation in the world and on the Great Plains. Students conduct...
Curated OER
A Study of Grasses on the American Prairie
Fifth graders study the ecology and impact of animal and human life as it relates to the environment of the Great Plains and its grasses. They compare types of grasses with a rainfall map to illustrate the effect of precipitation on...
Curated OER
Whose Buffalo?
Seventh graders examine how the Plains Indians vied with white commercial buffalo hunters for the millions of Great Plains buffalo. They create an illustrated broadside supporting the interests of either the Indians or the commercial...
Curated OER
Whose Buffalo?
Seventh graders examine how the Plains Indians vied with white commercial buffalo hunters for the millions of Great Plains buffalo. They create an illustrated broadside supporting the interests of either the Indians or the commercial...
Curated OER
American Settlement of the Great Plains
Seventh graders examine the Great Plains. In this American settlement instructional activity, 7th graders create a map of the settled areas in the United States. Students discuss the struggle between settlers and the Native Americans.
Curated OER
At Home on the Range
Fifth graders complete a worksheet. In this bison and great plains lesson plan, 5th graders read information about bison and complete a worksheet of comprehension questions. Students locate the American Great Plains on a map and answer...
Curated OER
Native American's Of the Great Plains
In this social studies worksheet, students find the words that are related to the Great Plains Indians and the answers are found at the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
The Displacement of the Native Americans
Seventh graders comprehend the interaction and conflict between Native Americans and white settlers in the years following the Civil War. They examine how those conflicts impacted the Native American way of life on the Great Plains.
Curated OER
Exploration and Settlement of the American Southwest
Students scrutinize the Zuni Pueblo Revolt in this seven lessons unit on early Spanish explorers in the American southwest. The discovery of the Spanish missions, the search for the seven cities of gold, and particular geological...
Curated OER
Causes and Effects of the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains
Eleventh graders discover the causes and effects of the Dust Bowl on Great Plains farmers. Students utilize photographs to analyze and evaluate documents.