Lesson Plan Description and Rationale:

Students will plot the path of both the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads. Using the timelines provided, include important dates along the way. Once the map has been completed, students will have the opportunity to view a Power Point explanation of important events leading up to and involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.

State Standard:

State Goal 17: Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society, with emphasis on the United States.

Goal 17A: Locate, describe and explain places, regions and features on the Earth.

Goal 17B: Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions on the Earth’s physical systems.

Goal 17C: Understand relationships between geographic factors and society.

Goal 17D: Understand the historical significance of geography.

Objectives:

Students will be able to name the states and identify important dates concerning the railroad. Name the date and place in which the two railroads met. Become aware of the people involved in creating the railroad.

Student Task:

Activity 1:

Each student will be given a map of the United States and a copy of the construction timeline for the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. Begin by labeling the states involved in the building process.

States to label:

The Union Pacific Railroad (color light blue)

a.   Omaha, Nebraska= starting point

b. Columbus, Nebraska

c. Plum Creek, Nebraska

d. North Platte, Nebraska

e. Julesburg, Nebraska

f. Sidney, Nebraska 

g.     Wyoming Territory

h. Cheyenne, Wyoming

i. Laramie, Wyoming

j. Benton, Wyoming

k. Piedmont, Wyoming

l. Bear River City, Wyoming

m.     Utah Territory

n. Devil's Gate

o. Ogden, Wyoming

p. Promontory Summit, Utah

          The Central Pacific Railroad (colored light red)

a. Sacramento, California = starting point

b. Roseville, California

c. Newcastle, California

d. Colfax, California

e. Alta, California

f. Cisco, California

g. Truckee, California

h. Reno, Nevada

i. Wadsworth, Nevada

j. Promontory Summit, Utah

Activity 2:

Given the timeline information, discuss and label the important dates relating to the completion of the Railroad.

Timeline for the Central Pacific Railroad

Timeline for the Union Pacific Railroad

Activity 3:

Memory Bag:

Pretend you are a passenger on the Transcontinental Railroad. Use the information gathered and prior knowledge to complete the worksheet. Use your imagination and have fun!

Evaluation:

Examine the labeling and coloring of the states and the dates involved in depicting the progression of the two railroads.

Keywords for this lesson:

Promontory Point, Utah, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad,

Possible Extension:

Power Point created by Marie Sontag.

http://www.timetrek.org/8thGrSocStudies/TranCConRR/The%20TransRR.ppt

National Parks Service Historical Handbook: Golden Spike

          Waiting for the last rails to be laid at Promontory, May 10, 1869

          The joining of the rails

          Central Pacific’s “Jupiter” and Union Pacific’s No. 119

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/40/hh40q.htm

Keywords for this lesson:

Promontory Point, Utah , Timeline, Golden Spike                                       

Resources:

 U.S. National Archives & Records Administration

Map Analysis Worksheet      

 http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/analysis_worksheets/map.html

Power Point by Marie Sontag

http://www.timetrek.org/8thGrSocStudies/TranCConRR/The%20TransRR.ppt

Map showing the new transcontinental route of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad and its connections.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g3701p+rr003300))

National Parks Service Historical Handbook: Golden Spike

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/40/hh40q.htm

Extension Lesson: All Aboard! Building of the Transcontinental Railroad