Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"The Difficult Journey" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about the hardships of a family of early settlers moving West in a wagon train. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Gulls of Salt Lake [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"The Gulls of Salt Lake" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a group of early settlers who had endured the hardships of traveling west and planted crops in the fertile soid, only to be invaded by swarms of crickets. Just when...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Settlement [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th
"Settlement" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the problems of the early settlers in the prairie. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes:...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Settlement [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th
"Settlement" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the hardships of early settlers in the prairie. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes: determining main idea and...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: School Publishers: Join a Cattle Drive

For Students 3rd - 6th
At this site take a look at maps of cattle drives from the ranches and ranges of Texas to the market places in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: The West: Frederick Jackson Turner (1861 1932)

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS website provides a brief biographical sketch of Frederick Jackson Turner, and an overview of his theory regarding the significance of the American western frontier as the defining experience in the development of the American...
Primary
PBS

The West: Documents on the Sand Creek Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains the text of documents on the Sand Creek Massacre, including two editorials from the Rocky Mountain News, Congressional testimony by John S. Smith, and a deposition by John M. Chivington
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Events in the West: 1800 1820

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site on the development and history of the American West. In timeline fashion, this page details the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It continues with information about...
Website
PBS

Pbs: Homes on the Prairie

For Students 3rd - 5th
A complete description of the prairie and how it changed as people began to settle there. Click on the links after the text to take you to the next page.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Lewis and Clark: Into the Unknown

For Students 3rd - 8th
On April 7, 1805, the Corps of Discovery left Fort Mandan and headed west. On their maps, the land that Lewis and Clark was headed for was indicated by a vast, blank space and the word, "Unknown". This is where this journey INTO THE...
Activity
Curated OER

National Park Service: Fort Scott National Historic Site: The Mexican War

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a very brief overview of the Mexican War, organized into the following sections: "Zachary Taylor's Army," "The Army of the West," and "Invasion of Mexico City." Includes links to related articles and websites.
Activity
Other

Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Handout
Other

The Great Plains in Midwestern Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the history of the people on the Great Plains, both the Native Americans and early settlers.
Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: The Four Great Surveys of the West

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides historic images of the expanding frontier taken by military and private citizens from 1861-1912.
eBook
University of Michigan

Making of America: Kanzas and Nebraska

For Students 9th - 10th
This University of Michigan site provides the full text of "Kanzas and Nebraska," written by Edward Everett Hale. The book gives the history, geographical, and physical characteristics of these territories, as well as an account of the...
Primary
Mount Holyoke College

Hippo Campus: Excerpt From "The Significance of the Frontier in American History"

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an excerpt from "The Significance of the Frontier in American History" by Frederick Jackson Turner.
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Fantastic Facts

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource provides information about the Gold Rush.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Wild Places: Growing Prairie

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore efforts to return parts of the American prairie using controlled cultivation and grazing. Compare and contrast the effects of various levels of ground shade on new seedlings.
Website
Other

The Oregon Trail: Fantastic Facts About the Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides quirky facts about the Oregon Trail.
Primary
Ibis Communications

Eye Witness to History; Crossing the Plains, 1865

For Students 9th - 10th
Article offers the diaries of Sarah Raymond as she treks across the Great Plains. Describes the many hardships encountered on this long journey.
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Lure of the West

For Students 9th - 10th
Beautiful artwork from the more famous artists who depicted the people, places and things of the American West.
Article
Other

Global Security: 54 40 or Fight

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the significant territorial changes that took place in the United States under the presidency of James K. Polk. These included the annexation of Texas, the settling of the dispute with Great Britain over claims to Oregon...
Activity
Other

Californians and the Military: John Charles Fremont and the Bear Flag Revolt

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief retelling of John C. Fremont's expedition to California. Learn about his confrontation with Mexican authorities that led to the Bear Flag Revolt.
Unknown Type
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 5th
"The Difficult Journey" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about the hardships of a family moving west in a wagon train. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story;...

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