The Transcontinental Railroad: How Did It Change American Society and Environment?

GeoHistory
GeoLiteracy
GeoSTEM
ELL
Lesson Plan Content
Description: 
In this lesson, students will use readings and maps to discuss the technology that was used to build the Transcontinental Railroad and then calculate the amount of money each railway company received. The Essential Question that will be answered is: How do human actions change American society and the environment? This lesson includes strategies for teaching diverse learners.
Author: 
Victoria White
Grade Range: 
7
Duration: 
3 class periods
Lesson Materials
Teacher Instructions: 
application/pdf iconTeacher Instructions
Student Materials: 
application/pdf iconStudent Worksheets, Assessments, and Answer Keys
Supplemental Files: 
application/pdf iconThe Pacific Railroad Route (1863-1869) map (teacher)
application/pdf iconThe Pacific Railroad Route (1863-1869) map (student)
application/pdf iconNational Park Service map of Transcontinental Railroad
application/pdf iconNational Park Service map of Transcontinental Railroad (last page)
Materials to Assist Teachers and English Language Learners: 
application/pdf iconVocabulary Cards
application/pdf iconVocabulary Test and Answer Key
Standards
National Geography Standards: 
1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information
4: The physical and human characteristics of places
9: The characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations
14: How human actions modify the physical environment
17: How to apply geography to interpret the past