Curated OER
The Cowboy Life
Travel back in time to the 1800s and research the Old West! Elementary and middle schoolers work with a partner to complete at least four activities from a list provided by the teacher. They use these activities to present their...
Curated OER
Oklahoma! The Cultural Myth of America
Learners explore cultural myths in America by collecting images and characteristics of stereotypical Americans. They read a primary source document, discussing the views of the author in class. Next, they compare the terms used to...
Curated OER
Learning Landscapes
Fifth graders analyze a landscape depicting Yosemite during the time of the Wild West. They compare their perceptions of the West from film and television to this representation. They observe the use of scale and color to depict size and...
Curated OER
Wild West Book List
Are you teaching a unit on the Wild West and need a good book suggestion that ties in? You've just found an extensive book list that includes titles for both juvenile and advanced readers. Each title is about some aspect of the Wild West...
Curated OER
How the West Was One - Three x Four
While this activity provides a motivating and interesting way to review the concept of the order of operations, it involves the use of software called How the West Was One + Three x Four. There are also other resources that are...
Curated OER
Who is Who in the Old West?
Students consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African Americans,...
Curated OER
Cattledrives & Barbed Wire
In this United States history learning exercise, middle schoolers utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the development of the West. A short answer question is included as well.
Curated OER
The Old West
In this literacy worksheet, students look for the words that are related to the concept of the Old West. The skill of spelling is emphasized.
National First Ladies' Library
Will Rogers
Learners explore the concepts of irony and humor. They discuss Will Rogers' history and determine that he was a humorist who many viewed as very wise. They read quotes of Will Rogers and determine that everybody is ignorant, only on...
Curated OER
Myths of the Wild West
Students examine the Wild West as it was depicted in films and books. In groups, they compare this information to what it was really like as they find out in books. They also discover the role of the Native Americans in the Wild West...
Curated OER
Little House in the Census: Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder
Learners view copies of the 1880 and 1900 censuses and then create and conduct their own census of their homes, comparing all three.
Curated OER
Glidden's Patent Application for Barbed Wire
Pupils discuss the invention of barbed wire and how it affected various groups of peoples in the U.S. after its invention.
PBS
American Experience: Buffalo Bill
This 1-hour documentary presents a portrait of William Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill. A western frontier legend in the 1880s, his Wild West Show travelled the globe making the American West into the American story.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Texas Ranch House
What was it like to be a cowboy in 1867? Visit the Cooke Ranch and explore a cowboy's working and dwelling quarters. Play the interactive games to learn about the many aspects of daily life in the American West. (Click "Interactive...
Ibis Communications
Eyewitness to History: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Rob a Train, 1899
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are legendary outlaws of the American West who robbed banks and trains. This is an account of their 1899 train robbery as reported in the June 8, 1899 issue of the Buffalo Bulletin.