Transcontinental Railroad Unit 4th Grade

1. Lesson 1

1.1. Topic Travel Revolution

1.2. Assignment: Newspaper Article

1.3. Big Idea: Look back into history at an example of the impact of a leap forward in transportation. Show the relevance to similar challenges facing us today (e.g. CA High Speed Rail program)

1.3.1. Strands: History, Culture

1.3.2. DOK:

1.3.3. MI:

2. Lesson 2

2.1. Topic: She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain

2.2. Surveyor Assignment

2.3. CSSS: Math Integration

2.4. Big Idea: How they met the challenges presented by geography and how much more we can do to meet such challenges with today's technology

2.4.1. Strands: Geography

2.4.2. DOK:

2.4.3. MI:

3. Lesson 3

3.1. The Players

3.1.1. Judah

3.1.2. Workers

3.1.2.1. Chinese

3.1.2.2. Irish

3.1.2.3. Bosses

3.1.2.4. "Middle Men"

3.1.3. CP's Big Four

3.1.4. UP's Dodge, Durant

3.2. Journal Assignment begins

3.3. CSSS: ELA Integration

3.4. Big Idea: There are many stakeholders to big challenges such as what was tackled with the building of the railroad, and we face similar challenges with multiple perspectives today

3.4.1. Strands: History, Culture, Ethics

3.4.2. DOK:

3.4.3. MI:

4. Lesson 4

4.1. Topic: For Profit or Public Good

4.2. Big Idea:

4.2.1. Strands: Economic, Politics, Ethics

4.2.2. DOK:

4.2.3. MI:

4.3. Assignment: Travel Poster

5. Lesson 5

5.1. Topic: Dinah Blow Your Horn

5.1.1. Big Idea:

5.1.1.1. Strands: Technology

5.1.1.2. DOK:

5.1.1.3. MI:

5.2. Assignment: Communication without sound

6. Lesson 6

6.1. Topic: Legends of the Rails

6.2. VAPA Integration

6.3. Assignment Folk Song, Tale, Poem

6.4. Big Idea:

6.4.1. Strands: Culture

6.4.2. DOK:

6.4.3. MI:

7. Lesson 7

7.1. Topic: Thar She Blows!

7.2. Technology

7.2.1. Steam

7.2.2. Telegraph

7.2.3. Hands On

7.3. Big Idea:

7.3.1. STEM Integration

7.3.2. DOK:

7.3.3. MI:

8. Lesson 8

8.1. Topic: Ten Mile Day to Promontory

8.2. Assessment: Obituary and Life Impact

8.3. Big Idea:

8.3.1. Strands: History, Culture, Politics, Economics, Ethics

8.3.2. DOK:

8.3.3. MI:

9. Field Trip

9.1. California State Railroad Museum

9.2. Big Idea:

9.2.1. Strands:

9.2.2. DOK:

9.2.3. MI:

10. California History Social Science Standards 4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.   4.4.1 Understand the story and lasting influence of the Pony Express, Overland Mail Service, Western Union, and the building of the transcontinental railroad, including the contributions of Chinese workers to its construction.