After studying the Transcontinental Railroad, students can display their knowledge about its route, the major companies involved, and the cities from which it traveled by creating a map! They can use the template provided or start with a blank storyboard. Students should include a key with symbols to indicate important features of the railroad determined by the teacher such as cities, states, the routes, physical features, etc. In this example the following are included: the Central Pacific Railroad route, the Union Pacific Railroad route, Omaha, Nebraska, Promontory Point, Utah, Sacramento, California, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a map about the transcontinental railroad.
Student Instructions:
Engage students by having them research and place key Transcontinental Railroad events on a timeline. This approach helps students connect dates, milestones, and the significance of each event to the overall project.
Divide your class so each group or individual focuses on researching one major aspect, such as a company, city, or landmark. This makes the project collaborative and ensures thorough coverage of each topic.
Provide a list of reliable books, websites, and videos about the Transcontinental Railroad. This saves students time and helps them find accurate, grade-appropriate information.
Demonstrate how to write a concise, informative timeline entry using an example event. This gives students a clear template to follow for their own entries.
Lead a conversation about how the Transcontinental Railroad changed travel, trade, and life in the United States. Encouraging student input deepens understanding and personal connection to history.
A map of the Transcontinental Railroad visually shows the route connecting the eastern and western United States, highlighting key cities, railroad companies, and geographic features involved in its construction.
Students can create a Transcontinental Railroad map by using a template or blank storyboard to draw the route, label major cities (like Omaha, Sacramento, and Promontory Point), mark the Central Pacific and Union Pacific lines, and add a key for symbols representing important features.
Key cities and landmarks to include are Omaha, Nebraska, Sacramento, California, Promontory Point, Utah, and significant physical features like the Sierra Nevada Mountains, as well as the routes of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads.
Using a key or legend helps students clearly identify symbols for cities, states, railroad routes, and physical features, making the map easier to understand and visually organized.
Encourage students to research the railroad's history, use different colors or icons for each company, include major cities and natural barriers, and explain the significance of each feature in their map's legend.