PBS
Myth of the West: Kit Carson to the Rescue
There's nothing like the Wild Wild West! Scholars investigate the American Frontier through the eyes of Kit Carson. To complete the first installment of a three-part series, they use presentations, a short video, and primary and...
Curated OER
The Cowboy Life
Travel back in time to the 1800s and research the Old West! Elementary and middle schoolers work with a partner to complete at least four activities from a list provided by the teacher. They use these activities to present their...
Curated OER
Myths of the Wild West
Students examine the Wild West as it was depicted in films and books. In groups, they compare this information to what it was really like as they find out in books. They also discover the role of the Native Americans in the Wild West...
Curated OER
The Wild, Wild West, or Was It?
Fifth graders explore the American West. For this Westward Expansion lesson, 5th graders examine the opportunities that the West offered American pioneers. Students watch a montage video and analyze primary documents regarding the...
Curated OER
Ride 'Em Cowboy (Buffalo Bill Cody and the Wild West Show)
Students research the impact of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show on the world's view of American western culture. They create a poster advertising the Wild West Show.
Curated OER
Who is Who in the Old West?
Students consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. In this Westward Expansion activity, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African...
Curated OER
What Does a Cowboy Do?
Students participate in a variety of activities as they study cowboys and the cowboy culture. They read stories and sing songs about the cowboys. They study the area of the United States cowboys are from and review the tools cowboys...
Curated OER
Cattledrives & Barbed Wire
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the development of the West. A short answer question is included as well.
Curated OER
Cowboy Violence
Young scholars examine images of cowboys and gunfighters in Western films and dime novels and discuss whether cowboys were really violent. They read several historical interpretations of cowboy violence. In addition, they distinguish...
Curated OER
Hit The Trail
Young historians research one of the most colorful periods in US History: the cattle drives of the 1800's. They research the three most popular trails, and complete mapping and writing assignments about each one. The lesson plan has many...
Curated OER
Getting the Point!
Students explore the American cattle industry history. In this United States history and reading comprehension cross curriculum lesson, students read an article about the history of longhorn cattle, then answer comprehension questions on...
Other
Epcc Libraries: Borderlands: Black Cowboys Rode the Trails, Too 21 (2002)
Faculty-edited college student articles on the US-Mexico border giving insight to what life was like for black cowboys in the late 1800s. The article explains how many were ex-slaves that became cowboys after Emancipation, what their job...
PBS
American Experience: Buffalo Bill
This 1-hour documentary presents a portrait of William Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill. A western frontier legend in the 1880s, his Wild West Show travelled the globe making the American West into the American story.
PBS
Pbs: Archives of the West: The Life and Adventures of Buffalo Bill
Read the version of Buffalo Bill Cody's autobiography, from this text originally published in 1917. Presented as html text chapter by chapter, it makes interesting reading.
Other
Buffalo Bill History: Buffalo Bill's Life
Read about the legendary William F. Cody, more commonly known as Buffalo Bill, whose Wild West shows legitimized the cowboy life.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Cowboys of the Old West
Interesting facts and an overview of the life of the cowboys of the Old West between 1865 and 1885.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Us History: The American Cowboy
Looks at the origins of American cowboy culture, at the lives of cowboys and at the responsibilities they had, such as herding cattle to market.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Texas Ranch House
What was it like to be a cowboy in 1867? Visit the Cooke Ranch and explore a cowboy's working and dwelling quarters. Play the interactive games to learn about the many aspects of daily life in the American West. (Click "Interactive...
Ibis Communications
Eye Witness to History: The Old West
This resource provides first-hand accounts and background information on the Old West. Content touches on crossing the plains, cowboys, train robberies, Dalton Gang's Last Raid, Custer's Last Stand, the Death of Billy the Kid, and much...
PBS
Pbs the West: William F. Cody "Buffalo Bill"
Buffalo Bill Cody, whose life lent itself to myth-making, helped define the American West. Read this biography about the man from PBS' series on The West.
Other
Famous Texans: Bill Pickett
Discusses the life of William Pickett, "a legendary cowboy from Taylor, Texas of black and Indian descent."
Utah Education Network
Uen: Utah History Encyclopedia: Outlaws in Utah
This site discusses the cultural icon of the western "outlaw" in the context of the state of Utah.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Utah History Encyclopedia: Butch Cassidy
This resource features an article on the life and exploits of the outlaw Butch Cassidy.
University of North Carolina
North American Slave Narratives: Life and Adventures of Nat Love
Provides the text of the book, "The Life and Adventures of Nat Love," an autobiography written by Nat Love.