Your students will learn about the Transcontinental Railroad through these low-prep station activities! Students rotate through three stations to view historical images and learn about the construction and impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad from multiple perspectives. Introductory and closing reading passages are included. Simply print the materials and the student response booklet. Answer keys are included.
 
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This resource includes/covers the following:
- Introductory Reading Passage (build background knowledge and context)
- Station A: Union Pacific Railroad
- Station B: Central Pacific Railroad
- Station C: Changes and Impact
- Closing Reading Passage
- Analysis Questions (triple staple booklet)
- Station Labels (folds into tent)
- Teacher Tips/Standards Alignment
- Answer Keys Included!
 
Station Content/Information:
Union Pacific Starting Point
Irish Rail Workers
Sherman Summit
Dale Creek Crossing
Echo Canyon Tunnel
Central Pacific Starting Point
Materials Transportation
Chinese Rail Workers
Newcastle Gap
Winnemucca Depot
Victory Camp
Travel Before the Railroad
Travel After the Railroad
Impact on Indigenous Land
Impact on Indigenous Peoples
Deforestation
Hunting By Rail
Golden Spike
 
This resource is LOW PREP! All of the student analysis pages are included in a student booklet. Just print and triple staple! The questions include a variety of short answers, fill-in-the-blank, and map skills. Answer keys included.
 
Station materials are super easy to implement. Just print and trim (optional). Station labels are included (just fold into a tent).
 
Other Ways to Use this Resource:
Conduct this activity whole group. Project the station materials from the PDF over your large screen and go through the response questions together with your students.
 
Standards Alignment:
- Common Core Standards for Reading Informational Text
- Washington 5th Grade Social Studies Standards
- Can cross-walk to many different state standards