Curated OER
Jackie Steals Home
Students read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
Curated OER
Headin' West! The Life of a Pioneer
Students explore the life of a pioneer and the relationship between the concept of Manifest Destiny and pioneering. Students complete activities, maps, writing and reading to experience pioneer life. Handouts and worksheets are included...
Curated OER
The Inventions and Effects of the Industrial Revolution
Students understand that the Industrial Revolution began in England, spreading to the rest of Western Europe and the United States and with it came an increased demand for raw materials from the Americans, Asia, and Africa.
Curated OER
Route 66 And Population Patterns
Learners investigate the geography located along Route 66. They research how the population patterns change in certain areas along the highway. Students use the information in order to form hypotheses about how and why the population...
Curated OER
Making A New Nation
Eighth graders read standard road maps and topographical maps, and examine the lives of pathfinders who opened the trails to the West. They develop Living History presentations, role-playing a character from the past.
Curated OER
Trekking Across America
Students evaluate the impact of transportation on society, the economy, communication, and travel. They complete an inquiry project about modern modes of transportation, and compare transportation of the 19th century to transportation...
Curated OER
Five Utah Indian Tribes
Fourth graders trace the emergence and development of culture in Utah. They study the five Utah Indian Tribes and review several names of physical features of Utah that are derived from Indian words. They discuss how many cultures have...
Curated OER
Riding a Stagecoach in the 19th Century
Students research the differences between traveling on a stagecoach and wagon trail in the 19th century. In this historical lesson, students discover the uses of stagecoaches and wagon trails in the 19th century, then decide which one...
Curated OER
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Students examine the Lewis and Clark expedition. They develop skills for historical analysis. They locate a variety of geographic features encountered by the expedition, and create a timeline that documents Lewis and Clark on their journey.
Curated OER
The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad#140
Students participation in a simulation of laying the track of Transcontinental Railroad starting from three different locations. They use toothpicks and coffee stirrers to build the rails. They evaluate which group laid the most track...
Curated OER
"I've Been Working on the Railroad" - Federal Land Grants and the Construction of the Illinois Central Railroad in Mid-nineteenth Century Illinois
Eleventh graders, in groups, design a self-sufficient community. Groups present the communities they've designed. They compare and contrast the communities presented. They research the theories of Johann Heinrich von Thunen online and...
Curated OER
A Sense of West Virginia
Students consider their perceptions of the world through their 5 senses while visiting the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history instructional activity, students discover how knowing about the past helps with their...
Curated OER
Five Utah Indian Tribes
Fourth graders study the five Utah Indian Tribes being able to identify the tribes by name and location.
Curated OER
Patterns of Settlement in Early Alabama
Fourth graders study the settlement of Alabama. They collect data from the U.S. census website and answer questions regarding settlement patterns in the counties of Alabama in 1820. They write a paagraph describing where they would have...
Curated OER
Bringing the Past to the Present
Second graders work in pairs and read a primary source artifact. They create a PowerPoint slide that will be part of a "museum" presentation for the rest of their class. Students select artifacts from a group of digitalized artifacts...
Curated OER
Fort at No. 4 History
Students examine the history of Fort No. 4 in New Hampshire before visiting the site. They identify key events and people that occured at the fort as well. They complete questions and teach them to their group.
Curated OER
Oregon City: A Convergence of Endings
Learners describe the activities that occurred in the Willamette Valley before the establishment of the Oregon Trail and agricultural settlement and explain the impact that American settlement had on the landscape and native groups who...
PBS
Wgbh/pbs: Westward Expansion 1860 1890
Many changes across the country during the westward expansion were features that could be captured on a map. Review this map and select characteristics to be illustrated. Characteristics such as population, major cities, railroads, and...
San Diego State University
Sdsu College of Education: Westward Movement
A group of organized lessons provides ideas for teachers when planning a unit on westward expansion in the US. Some activities include planning what to pack in your wagon, learning what obstacles were faced, mapping, and more.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1790 1850
This interactive map explores the territorial and population changes in the United States between 1790 and 1850. It also covers the beginning of the transportation revolution and the Native American land cessions and forced removals.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1860 1890
In this interactive map, explore several ways in which the United States experienced substantial growth between the years 1860-1890.
Library of Congress
Loc: Nation Expansion and Reform: Traveling on the Overland Trails, 1843 1860
Primary source information about traveling the Overland Trails, both to Oregon Country and California.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Gold in California
The gold rush in California accelerated the western migration of thousands of young American men, who streamed into California to find riches. See who else arrived in California and find out what they did. In addition, there is a map...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: The Nation Expands: Mexican Cession, 1848
See a map of the land acquired by the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, called the Mexican Cession. From Annenberg Media.