Westward expansion
Here are resources to help you find information about related topics.
- Oregon Trail
- Play the original Oregon Trail computer game here: Students love playing this old school game, they actually play it over and over again. Many students have said it's their favorite all time video game. Not bad for a game I used to play when I was in elementary school.
- Oregon Trail Interactive Map: A good map with clickable information.
- Oregon Trail Facts for Kids
- Oregon Trail part 1 video documentary
- Oregon Trail part 2 video documentary
- Mormon Trailwww.youtube.com/watch?v=3CdRDFhwiqE
- California Trail
- The California Trail at legendsofamerica.com: Good information about the trail with a map.
- Santa Fe Trail
- A Large, Detailed Map of the Santa Fe Trail (jpeg format)
- santafetrailresearch.com: The name says it all.
- Butterfield Overland Trail
- Butterfield Overland Trail Historical Marker in Mesilla: This has special significance to my classroom because this marker is located less than a mile from our school.
- Butterfield Overland Trail Map: A very detailed and high quality map provide by the National Park Service. I've linked to it from my Google Drive so that it can be opened up in the web browser, the original can be downloaded at the PEPC website HERE.
- Pony Express
- Pony Express Interactive Timeline: This was created with a younger audience in mind, but provides good, beginner level information in an interactive slideshow.
- Fur Trade
- Mountain Men and the Fur Trade: Includes an interactive museum tour, and a gallery of image links. Lots of good information here.
- Empire of the Bay: A high quality, interactive presentation with information about the Hudson Fur Traders of the Atlantic North East.
- California Gold Rush
- The California Gold Rush at Kidport: The site has a good timeline and kid friendly information.
- Gold Rush: At PBS.org, a good map with clickable information
- Transcontinental Railroad
- A One Page Overview:www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/BLMUtahTranscontinentalRailroadMap.pdf Provided by the BLM, in pdf format. A second page lists lesson vocabulary.
- Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum: Some good photos are here, if you can get past the red background that gives me a headache.
- Some maps: An interactive Flash map provided by PBS, a page with many maps provided by the Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum.
- Trail of Tears
- Trail of Tears Fast Facts: A fact sheet provided by kidskonnect.com.
- The Indian Removal Act: Very kid friendly information about this act that led to the Trail of Tears.
- Information at NativeIndianTribes.com: Some good information, it's also kid friendly.
- The Trail of Tears, by Robert Lindeaux: A short description of a very good painting depicting the Trail of Tears.
- Interactive Map: A high quality presentation by PBS, has lots of maps and information.
- Homestead Act
- The Homestead Act Facts: Some basics for kids to get started on some research.
- Short Reading of Homestead Act Information: There are some good facts here.
- Lewis & Clark
- Lewis & Clark Facts in Timeline Form: Good starter information.
- Lewis & Clark Game: A Choose Your Own Adventure style game, provided by National Geographic.
- Lewis & Clark Timeline: Includes biographies on both men as well.
- Smithsonian Education Presentation on Lewis & Clark: TONS of information available here, including the history surrounding the expedition.
- Lewis & Clark Maps: Some good maps: LewisandClark.com, LewiClark.net, a very nice pdf printable map, and a Google Maps interactive map.