The Transcontinental Railroad - US History

This lesson examines the working conditions of laborers on the Transcontinental Railroad, focusing on the experiences of Chinese and European workers. Students will learn about the harsh realities, discrimination, and significant contributions of these workers. Activities include video analysis, timeline sorting, guided reading, and writing PEEKA paragraphs. The lesson concludes with a discussion on the impact of the railroad on American society and the exploitation faced by immigrant laborers.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:
Discuss the Transcontinental Railroad and its significance in American history.
Introduce today’s keywords: Union Pacific, Central Pacific, Navvies, Nitroglycerin, Golden Spike.

Video Task:
Watch videos on the working conditions of Transcontinental Railroad laborers and list adjectives describing their experiences.

Timeline Activity:
Sort the timeline cards into the correct chronological order of significant events in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Primary Source Analysis:
Read and analyze primary sources related to the working conditions of Chinese and European laborers.
Complete guided reading activities.

Categorisation Task:
Categorize and evaluate the reliability of sources depicting the treatment of Chinese and European workers.

Discussion:
Debate the extent to which Chinese workers were exploited compared to their European counterparts.

Writing Task:
Write a PEEKA paragraph answering the question: How were European and Chinese workers treated while building the Transcontinental Railroad?

Peer Assessment:
Read through a partner’s paragraphs, highlight each PEEKA section, and provide feedback.

Class Discussion:
Share and discuss the PEEKA paragraphs.

Recap Quiz:
Participate in a recap quiz to reinforce key points from the lesson.

Resources:
Video links on the Transcontinental Railroad
Timeline cards
Primary source documents
Guided reading text
PEEKA paragraph guidelines and planning sheet

From a series of over 50 lessons made by Wolsey Academy on the history of the United States. They provide a thorough foundation of knowledge in this vital period of world history and provide an excellent foundation for all future study. Each lesson looks to focus on a range of historical skills and exam techniques to equip students with knowledge and transferable research, analysis and study skills.
To find the complete bundle search on the Wolsey Academy website.

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