Moving West with the Forts: Using an Interactive Map

Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the reform movements of the mid-1800's in the U.S. They participate in an Internet scavenger hunt, analyze primary source documents, and develop and perform a simulation of a mid-19th century...

The battle at the Alamo may be one of the most famous military campaigns in Texas history, but it is by no means the only one. As part of their study of the military history of Texas, class members research less-well-known sites, locate...

Young geographers will need to use a variety of map skills to complete the tasks required on this learning exercise. Examples of activities include using references to label a map of Mexico, identify Canadian territories and European...

Using a Florida map from 1597, young explorers consider the physical characteristics they would need in a site for a new colony and the resources they would need to survive. After selecting a site, class members research to discover the...

The first pioneers faced many obstacles on their journey west. Middle schoolers read different historical fiction texts (ideas are provided), make connections, and complete a detailed packet (included). Reading guides, journal ideas, and...

Review the history of Fort Jackson and Fort St. Phillip during the American Civil War in this informative PowerPoint. Included in this presentation are interesting facts, photos, and maps to increase student understanding of these...

Complete with maps, photographs, and historical documents, this presentation would be a great resource throughout a unit about mid-19th century America. Manifest Destiny, Texas Independence, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican War are all...

The system of frontier forts in Texas was established to protect Anglo settlers as well as those moving on westward. This article details the observations of Lt. Col. William Grigsby Freeman, who set out in 1853 to inspect a series of...

After observing a map of trails that settlers took in the 1800s, your class will write a journal with the perspective of a settler. In their journals, they must describe the trail they traveled, geographical features they saw, states and...

Students compare two maps of the same area from different time periods. In this American History activity, students look at two maps of the English colonies from 1636 and 1651. They discuss why the maps changed and predict maps from the...