How were the development of railroads critical to the rise of empires? Scholars delve into the relationship between the two using a documents-based question from College Board. Other prompts explore ideas such as nomadic and sedentary...

How have railroads influenced urban growth? What are the consequences of population booms? What has led to the growth of tech centers like Silicon Valley? A series of short-answer questions from the College Board explores the dynamics in...

Why was the Scientific Revolution so significant? What led to Dutch prosperity during the 1600s? To what extent have employment patterns changed in France in the last 100 years? Young historians consider these questions and get solid...

Can a railroad win a war? Scholars use a short video clip to analyze the impact the railway system had on the outcome of the First World War. The 27th lesson of a 32-part unit on the Great War investigates the use of trains to move...

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...

Reluctance to accept new technology is not a unique attribute to the 21st century. An informative video from Crash Course World History covers the rollout of the transcontinental railroad during the Industrial Revolution, and whether or...

Compare the North and South's population and economy in an interactive that displays a map of the states. Viewers discover which economy thrived more due to slave population. Use the interactive as a learning tool or for learners to...

America was built on the ingenuity, work ethic, and foresight of our ancestors. Sixth graders learn about the complex Gilded Age in American history, including the prominent inventors and captains of industry, and how they all connect...

How did the emergence of the Gold Rush in California lead to the development of an urban society, largely connected to a wider world of trade? Young historians review and analyze eight primary source documents to discover the cultural...

Get your class working on the railroad with this detailed and interactive lesson. After reading and discussing Ten Mile Day, learners explore division of labor, human capital, and productivity with a hands-on group activity in which they...

Why did people move westward in the United States? Your young historians will examine the experiences of various groups on the American frontier, from a miner working near the Comstock Lode in Nevada, to an Apache chief from the...

It wasn't like the American Industrial Revolution just happened overnight; or did it? Critically examine the inventors, inventions, investments, and tycoons that made the Industrial Revolution happen. Covered are over 50 years of...

Take your class back to the New West and the times of the Gold Rush, with a great slide show. They'll find wonderful images and lots of easy-to-read informational text describing everything from boom towns to The Battle of Little Big...

If ever a person wanted to know about the start, spread, and effects of the Industrial Revolution now would be the time to ask. Answer questions regarding facets of the Industrial revolution in slide show format. Each slide contains...

Three activities allow young flight engineers to understand the 4 principles of flight (weight, lift, thrust, and drag), to construct a glider, and to create a propeller. Multicultural history and literature are integrated by reading...

Based on an examination of Florida's railroad system, this multi-step lesson addresses FCAT requirements specific to Florida. After reading a passage, scholars use a map of the state to label railroad systems. They describe the goods...

Oh my goodness! This presentation covers a lot of ground. From the imperialist ideology that led to the colonization of the African continent, to the technological advancements that made it possible, this slide show has it all. Use in...

Students examine the effects the Transcontinental Railroad had on the regions through which it passed. They analyze and discuss maps, view and describe online images, and use photos and documents to develop a cause-and-effect ladder.

Third graders describe some of the factors that brought early settlers to Ann Arbor. They read Narrative-A Trip from Utica, New York, to Ingham County, Michigan in 1838. As an added challenge, 3rd graders can use maps to track Silas...

Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time. They explain reasons why people settled/settle in Michigan, then explain the role of geography on the settlement of Michigan.

Students research the building of the Canadian Railroad and discuss the impact it has on Canada today.

Seventh graders differentiate between, locate, and use primary and secondary sources, such as biographies from the Handbook of Texas. They analyze the effects of scientific discoveries and technological innovations, such as the railroad,...

Trace the industrial changes and shifts in world power occurring between 1850 and 1900. This is an extensive, well-organized, and complete look at the social and political events leading up to the turn of the century. A great resource to...

America sure did have a few growing pains during the Industrial Revolution. Share the problems, causes, effects, and reformation that marked the turn of the century and shift in policy during US industrialization. This slide show...