Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Eiserloh Story

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students read "The Eiserloh Story" and evaluate decisions made by the government in time of war. They determine if the government violated the rights of innocent civilians. They identify the Bill of Rights and analyze each Right.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sanitarium Times

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners learn about the Sanitarium Times as they look into how they lived, what they ate, how they were entertained, etc... In this Sanitarium Times lesson, the students do research and create papers as well as look for living members...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Flat-Out Truth

For Students 6th - 10th
In this Earth's shape worksheet, students read an article about a gentleman who believes the Earth is flat. Then students complete 5 short answer questions.
Handout
Other

Gateway Nmra: Trains and Railroads in the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
Why were the railroads so important to both the Confederates and Union and how were they targets of raids? How were railroad executives involved in the course of the war? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this...
Website
Other

Railroad Archive: Westinghouse Air Brake

For Students 9th - 10th
Everything necessary to know about the Westinghouse Air Brake for railroad cars is included on this site. There are diagrams of the air pump, triple valve, and advice on how to use the brake correctly. This brake was a life-saver for...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Comparing Travel Before and After the Transcontinental Railroad [Pdf]

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars will compare two primary accounts of overland travel in the 1860s,one by stagecoach, the other by railroad, to see how travel changed upon completion of the transcontinental railroad.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement:"house by the Railroad": A Painting and a Poem for the Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, learners will consider Edward Hopper's House by the Railroad: From Painting to Poem. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab.
Handout
Chicago History Museum

Encyclopedia of Chicago: Railroad Strike of 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from the Encyclopedia of Chicago explains how a strike by railroad workers in West Virginia eventually made its way to Chicago and was taken up by workers from many industries. See how city officials resolved this general...
Primary
PBS

Pbs the West: The Pacific Railway Act: July 1, 1862

For Students 9th - 10th
The critically acclaimed PBS series, "The West," provides the text of the actual Pacific Railway Act, designed to aid in the construction of a Railroad and Telegraph Line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean.
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming: Union Pacific Railroad Depot

For Students 9th - 10th
Railroad depot and related buildings.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Crow's Nest Line

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a history of the construction and significance of a railway through the Crowsnest Pass that connected a part of British Columbia that was cut off from the rest of Canada. Included are maps, photographs and primary source documents.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Edmonton and Slave Lake Railway

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief history recounts the construction in 1899 of the the Edmonton and Slave Lake Railway by a group of businessmen with an interest in exploiting the mineral deposits in the Athabasca Landing and Lesser Slave Lake area.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway

For Students 9th - 10th
The Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway was incorporated in 1896 to provide a rail connection between two political and economic rivals, Strathcona in the south and Edmonton in the north. This is a brief history of its evolution.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Canadian Northern Railway Maps

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection of maps details the railway system in Western Canada in 1916. Viewer can zoom in on the maps for added detail.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Canadian Northern Railway

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief history of of the development the Canadian Northern Railway that was built in western Canada, and completed in 1915. The site also provides primary source resources in the the form of photographs, excerpts, figures and maps.
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Calgary and Edmonton Railway

For Students 9th - 10th
This history of The Calgary and Edmonton Railway is an account of the necessity to build branch lines in order for the Canadian Pacific Railway to develop its vast land holdings on the prairies. Included are maps, photographs and primary...
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Canadian Northern Western

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief history describes the evolution of the Canadian Northern Western Railway. German entrepreneur, Martin Nordegg was unable to convince The Canadian Pacific or Grand Trunk Pacific to build a line so he turned to the Canadian...
Handout
Other

Bhra: Granville Woods

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this homage to Granville Woods, whose inventions and improvements to the railway system not only made railroad travel safer, but also made the New York City railway system a possibility.
Unit Plan
Other

Fitzhenry and Whiteside: 'If I Had Just Two Wings' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"If I Had Just Two Wings", an historical novel by Virginia Frances Schwartz, follows the journey of some slaves as they flee to Canada along the Underground Railroad. This teacher's guide includes detailed chapter summaries and project...
Lesson Plan
Other

Operation Lifesaver: Lesson Plans

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Teachers will find detailed lesson plans covering varying aspects of railroad safety. Connections to curriculum subject standards, such as physics, are provided. Various data and activity sheets, as well as grading rubrics, can be easily...
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Galt Enterprises

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief history that describes the establishment of the Alberta Railway by Alexander Tilloch Galt. It would be a means of moving coal from his companies coal properties to Medicine Hat. Included are maps, photographs and primary...
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Alberta Midland Railway

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief history relates the construction in 1909 of what was to be an extensive network of lines, of which only two were built. An engineering challenge was faced during the construction due to a deeply incised, old glacial meltwater...
Website
University of Alberta

University of Alberta: The Canadian National Railways

For Students 9th - 10th
This history of the Canadian National Railways (CNR) describes its formation in 1918 as the Government of Canada merged the assets of the Canadian Northern Railway with those of the Canadian Government Railway and later the Grand Trunk...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Golden Spike National Historic Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Homepage of the Golden Spike National Historic Site. Provides general information about the completion of the transcontinental railroad and contains links to other information.