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Christian Science Monitor

Christian Science Monitor: What Kids Did on the Western Frontier

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting article addressed to students discusses the life of children on the western frontier, about the time of the "Little House" stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale: Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Journey of Discovery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This site features three novels and uses them to show middle schoolers that reading can be fun and useful. Students and teachers will benefit from this informative resource.
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The American Family in Literature

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What is the objective of this "American Family in Literature" unit? This site uses "Farmer Boy" and "Nobody's Family Can Change" to explore differences in families. The resource includes rationale and activities to help get this point to...
Unit Plan
Other

Bc Heritage Websites Prog: A Visit to a B. C. General Store: Product Packaging

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the history of product packaging which began in the sixteenth century. Test you knowledge on product packaging and reuse in the 1800s.
Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Frontier Life: Food on the Frontier

For Students 9th - 10th
Would you clean your plate if you had to eat what frontier families served in eastern Montana? Find out what's on the menu from this companion essay to the PBS series, Frontier House.
Handout
Nebraska Studies

Nebraska Studies: Solomon Butcher Photographs the Sod House Frontier

For Students 6th - 8th
This is a brief biography of Nebraska photographer, Solomon Butcher, made history when he traveled, photographed, and wrote about Custer County.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform

For Students 3rd - 8th
Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.
Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Frontier Life: Frontier Education and the One Room Schoolhouse

For Students 9th - 10th
See how much public education has changed from the one-room schoolhouse days of the frontier. From a companion essay to the PBS series, Frontier House.
Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Frontier Life: Creating a Home on the Frontier

For Students 9th - 10th
Making a house a home was a struggle on the plains. This companion essay to the PBS series, Frontier House, describes the problems with getting water, outhouses, and furnishing the sod house.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: James F. Cooper

For Students 9th - 10th
This literary biography from the University of Groningen analyzes the contribution of James Fenimore Cooper to American literature and his role in the development of the American novel. Discusses Cooper's character, Natty Bumppo.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Nation Expansion and Reform: Traveling on the Overland Trails, 1843 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source information about traveling the Overland Trails, both to Oregon Country and California.
Graphic
Brigham Young University

Library of Congress: Maps: Their Use by Overlanders

For Students 9th - 10th
Did the settlers know where they were going when they headed west? This site gives an explanation of maps that were used during the westward movement.
Activity
George Eastman Museum

George Eastman House: Create a Phenakistoscope

For Students 3rd - 8th
Phenakistoscope. You may not be able to pronounce it, but with these easy to follow instructions you can make one. Have fun creating one of the earliest cinematography devices and watch your pictures come to life. Includes a printable...
Activity
George Eastman Museum

George Eastman House: Create a Thaumatrope

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Simple but amazing! Learn how to make a thaumatrope, one of the earliest forms of cinematography. Watch as two images become one right before your eyes.
Activity
George Eastman Museum

George Eastman House: Create a Zoetrope

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A zoetrope, or the "wheel of life," is an early way motion pictures were made. With these easy to follow directions you can create one of your very own using the printable templates.
Handout
Bibliomania

Bibliomania: James Fenimore Cooper

For Students 9th - 10th
This excellent site from Bibliomania provides a biography and analysis of the work of James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851). Analyzes Cooper's contribution to American literature and provides suggestions for further reading.

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