Connecting the united states from east to west, the transcontinental railroad was completed in strasburg formerly comanche, colorado on august 15, 1870. Some materials require signing up for a free account. Value the power of choice, flexibility and responsiveness last year, one of my ell students came up to me after class. Simon and schuster has lesson plans, discussion questions and activities that relate to social studies, reading, and writing. Mark on a map the route that the transcontinental railroad will follow. Pbs new perspectives on the west grades 612 this lesson plan has students assess.
It features a series of essays from historians exploring the railroad s impact on american history, particularly on the economy and business, the social impact it has on western settlement, and the changing relationship. Jan 23, 2014 the new edition of gilder lehrmans history now online historical journal is now available. Transcontinental telegraph and railroad lesson plans. Western expansion, industrial revolution, the nation grows. The following lessons, activities, and resources will help put both engineering triumphs into perspective. Lastly, pbs has a lesson plan that examines two of the landmark documents regarding westward expansion. Our the first railroads lesson plan introduces students to early railroads and the transcontinental railroad. In 1862 abraham lincoln signs the pacific railway act to build the transcontinental railroad. Activity three in the lesson asks students to compare the construction of the transcontinental railroad from a variety of perspectives, including those of chinese laborers. In this video segment adapted from american experience, explore archival photos and interviews to learn how large numbers of laborers from china were instrumental in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. First transcontinental railroad central pacific railroad.
In spite of this fact, the golden spike ceremony celebrating the railroads completion took place months earlier in a different location. What will be the most difficult terrain on which to lay track. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. After the first transcontinental railroad was completed, immigrants who entered the. Lesson 3 uses photos to show students the physical and natural challenges to building the transcontinental railroad and asks them what they can infer from these photos about life building the railroad.
Utah education network utah education network az site index. Asa whitney 17911874 and early plans for a transcontinental railroad though his early proposal was defeated, he would live to see the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The great railroad race discussion guide scholastic. The eastern businessmen want to sell their goods to those in the west and buy goods from asia.
This lesson plan provides great book such as the transcontinental railroad and you wouldnt want to work on a railroad, which would to use in ela during the railroad lesson. Free american history presentations in powerpoint format. The transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and. Grades 612 the transcontinental rail network, 1878 using a general map of u. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869. The transcontinental railroad was completed in six years. This transcontinental railroad powerpoint lesson is the perfect addition to your westward expansion unit. Lesson one introduction to the building of the transcontinental railroad page 10 lesson two building the union paci.
In spite of this fact, the golden spike ceremony celebrating the railroad s completion took place months earlier in a different location. From two student activities and assignments to choose from, to the 39 slide powerpoint presentation which has a builtin discuss. Clipper ships and the pony express were a beginning. Lesson plan on the transcontinental railroad for grades 612, with activities that could be adapted for younger students. April 9, 2019 stanford project gives voice to chinese workers who helped build the transcontinental railroad. Explore the different railroad lines and learn about the hardships workers faced. Could use this to show why people wanted to settle in texas. My students especially enjoy the transcontinental webquest and writing activity. Students then work in small groups to read oral histories of. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from sacramento, california over the sierra nevada mountains, the to end of track at the golden spike ceremony at promontory, utah where the rails were joined on may 10, 1869 with the union. Have students continue researching the topic of this history lesson plan on their own, and have them write a newspaper article set in 186970 related to the transcontinental railroad.
See especially the section on the transcontinental railroad. This great lesson plan collection includes 6 lesson plans that cover the importance of the transcontinental railroad. This issue focuses on a particular interest of mine, the transcontinental railroad. Students explore different accounts of what happened as the railroad neared completion and.
Download printable lesson plans, reading passages, games and puzzles, clip art, bulletin board. When it proved impossible to recruit enough workers in the united states, the central pacific railroad began to hire laborers from china. The transcontinental railroad is considered one of the most important technological advances of the 19th century. Antichinese political activity and violence erupted between 18801900 throughout the west, resulting in scores of deaths. Dear educator, the classroom resources gathered here are designed to help you use this web site, other material on the internet, and the west videos for a study of the united states westward.
What other difficulties do you foresee in terms of crews of men living and working in a variety of environments as they lay tracks. The transcontinental telegraph 1861 and transcontinental railroad 1869 provided faster overland service. With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. Worksheets are lesson plan for teaching american history westward, the first transcontinental railroad, transcontinental railroad fact, grade 4 social studies instructional task the, full steam ahead the transcontinental railroad, transcontinental railroads the west, the. Transcontinental railroad uen utah education network. For teachers transcontinental railroad turns 150 egfi. What is the union pacific railroad company empowered by this act to do.
Use this lesson plan to teach students about the history and impact of the transcontinental railroad. Fsi giving voice to the chinese railroad workers on the. Historic maps in k12 classrooms map 11 the transcontinental rail. Pan for gold, bake gold rush sourdough biscuits, race to deliver mail on the pony express, build the transcontinental railroad out of craft sticks, and more. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869 get even more great free content. Russell and the american west page 54 lesson four the impact of the transcontinental railroad document based. Transcontinental railroad free american history lesson. Utah education networks transcontinental railroad activities and lesson plans for students in grades k 7 include studying the environmental. Transcontinental railroad recruits chinese laborers pbs. Libby offers readers her own account of the race to complete americas transcontinental railroad. Students then work in small groups to read oral histories of descendants of the chinese railroad workers. Scholastic teachablesworksheets, lesson plans, learning. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west.
In 1862, when president abraham lincoln signed the pacific railroad act, he set in motion the great railroad race between the union. The transcontinental railroad free american history. Use these activities and games to help students learn about the transcontinental. Middlehigh school lesson plan the chinese exclusion act of. Displaying all worksheets related to transcontinental railroad history. The westerners want to sell their material to those in the east.
It was here on may 10, 1869 that california governor stanford drove the golden spike or the last spike, that symbolized the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. This lesson was created by tyler balow decorah school district for students from ninth to twelfth grade. We should note that this lesson draws on a pbs documentary video that is not directly available on the site. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. The impact of the transcontinental railroad nehedsitement. In two upcoming books, researchers with stanfords chinese railroad workers in. How to build simple telegraph sets students in grades 612 build simple telegraph sets. Depending on how you use the lesson plans you will have activities for 3 to 5 class periods. Giving voice to chinese railroad workers stanford news. Portrait of the transcontinental railroad lesson plan for web. The railroad network of the united states grew rapidly in the decades after the civil war, particularly in the states west of the mississippi river. It includes 60 slides of information that are visually engaging and include many pictures, website links, and thoughtprovoking questions. This video was created by jenny jarvis and nikki mecham.
In some parts of the country, seeing a train may be rare, so it is important for students to see how this early form of transportation brought the people of. Overview using a variety of maps, students assess the need for a transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. The transcontinental railroad was completed on may 10, 1869, continue reading the golden spike in the transcontinental railroad. This content contains ed material that requires a free newseum ed account. History buffs and railroad enthusiasts alike will enjoy learning about the transcontinental railroad with this wild west worksheet. In some parts of the country, seeing a train may be rare, so it is important for students to see how this early form of transportation brought the people of the united states closer together. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on.
Students will follow a rubric to ensure accuracy of their projects. Nea transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades k5. The transcontinental railroad this lesson plan has students assess the need for a transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. Activity three in the lesson asks students to compare the construction of. Transcontinental railroad history worksheets lesson. It talks about the transcontinental railroad from the perspective of a. Work on the first transcontinental railroad began after president abraham lincoln approved the pacific railway act of 1862, a landmark law that authorized the. Eleventh graders explain the development of the american west following the civil war. Teachers should be aware of the role the completion of the transcontinental railroads played in the settlement of the american west. The handout for group 3 lists some good resources on the role of chinese immigrants. The first railroads lesson plan clarendon learning. The central pacific railroad and the union pacific railroad lines met at promontory summit, utah. Transcontinental railroad cant find what youre looking for. The transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and teachers.
Display the instructions throughout this history lesson plan for students to refer to. Elementary education simulation game teaching the history of the first transcontinental railroad, 18631869. Students will relate the hardships faced by pioneers through a web quest and group projects. The transcontinental railroad with railroad sounds see also. Utah education networks transcontinental railroad activities and lesson plans for students in grades k 7 include studying the environmental and local economic impact of the railroad.
Look for these spotlights highlighting great documents, photographs, posters, and more from our holdings. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades k5 nea. The transcontinental railroad youtube history lesson. Transcontinental railroad history lesson worksheets.
Depending on how you use the lesson plans you will have activities for 3 to 5. One vivid example of this phenomenon is in kansas, where the. The transcontinental railroad students in grades 612 assess the need for a transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. It features a series of essays from historians exploring the railroads impact on american history, particularly on the economy and business, the social impact it has on western settlement, and the changing relationship. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. In this lesson, guide students through an exploration of the context, causes, and effects of the transcontinental railroad, and help them practice identifying the main idea and supporting details in a nonfiction text. Railroads across the country students in grades k2 learn to read and trace transcontinental routes on a nineteenthcentury railroad map of the united states.
It is a digital story that was created mainly for the fourth grade. Transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades 68 nea. They also explore the homestead act of 1862 and the pacific railway act of 1862. This issue of history now is devoted to the impact of this most famous moment in american rail history.
First transcontinental railroad photographic history museum. This transcontinental railroad lesson plan is suitable for 11th grade. The transcontinental railroad wellwritten lesson plan for middle and highschool age students analyzing primary source material, the need for the railroad, and the effect the railroad had on america. At first praised as diligent workers, praise turned to hostility as the railroad was completed and competition for other jobs increased. Transcontinental railroad lesson plan for 11th grade lesson. Download printable lesson plans, reading passages, games and puzzles, clip art, bulletin board ideas, and skills sheets for kids in any grade. How to build simple telegraph sets students in grades 612 build simple. The transcontinental railroad activity and lesson plan comes complete with everything you need to engage and teach your students about the first transcontinental railroad. Nea transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades 68. Lesson plans click here to find a transcontinental railroad book in a nearby library. Transcontinental railroad beginning with designs for the first steam engine and ending with the division of sioux territory. Middlehigh school lesson plan the chinese exclusion act. As a result of this lesson plan, students will understand how the transcontinental railroad began and its construction.
The transcontinental railroad was an engineering success that forever changed the history of the united states. Transcontinental railroad lesson plan for 11th grade. The new edition of gilder lehrmans history now online historical journal is now available. Examine the short and long term effects of the transcontinental railroad on the regions through which it passed. As school lets out and vacation begins, were changing up our posts for the summer.
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