Railways not only cross the US, but they are also intertwined with the history of America. Using a timeline format, individuals explore the connections between major events in American history—such as the Civil War—and the rise of the railroads. Activities help the class sharpen their research and collaborative skills as they consider the topics.

Concepts

railroads, the transcontinental railroad, american history, research reports, illinois history, illinois

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Ask students to research time periods and their connections to the railroad
• Compile students' findings in a whole-class timeline

Classroom Considerations

• Learners need access to research materials, such as laptops

Pros

• Template for research is scaffolded and easy to use
• Lesson plan and activities help pupils synthesize information about historical dynamics

Cons

• Most research links do not work
• Lesson plan features a large ad from Amtrak

Common Core

RI.4.1 RI.4.2 RI.4.3 RI.4.4 RI.4.5 RI.4.9 RI.4.10