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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic site from the Our Documents group that allows visitors to see an original copy of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803. This treaty allowed the United States to purchase a tract of land west of the Mississippi River that was...
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Handout
Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden: Rivers and Streams

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Evergreen Project profiles the natural history of rivers and streams. Topics include watersheds, how a stream becomes a river, erosion, water pollution, and the like.
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Reversing the Chicago River [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th
"Reversing the Chicago River" is a one page, nonfiction passage about how the leaders of Chicago reversed the polluted Chicago River so that it emptied into the Mississippi River instead of the lake. It is followed by questions which...
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Jason: Sediment Deposition Let the River Run

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Disappearing Wetlands: Examine changes in sediment deposition at locations along the Mississippi River using data collected at two stations by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
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Website
PBS

River of Song

For Students 9th - 10th
The lure of the Mississippi. What is it about this River that draws people to it? This exhibit is devoted to just that - the music of the river and the people that sing about it.
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Website
Other

Us Genealogy Network: Steamboating on the Mississippi

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn factual information about the early days of steamboating on the Mississippi River and in St. Louis. You can also read an actual account from a steamboat Captain, view photos and listen to the song "Steamboat Bill."
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Activity
University of North Carolina

Mark Twain: Life on the Mississippi

For Students 9th - 10th
Here, read Mark Twain's (1835-1910 CE) book, "Life on the Mississippi," which was originally published in 1883. Download two HTML versions of the text: one providing links to images in the original text and one with images included.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: Meanders in the Mississippi River, 1916

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1916 of the vicinity of Vicksburg showing typical river meandering of the Mississippi River, including remnant river beds and oxbow lakes (Eagle Lake).
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: The Mississippi River Route of Hennepin, 1697

For Students 9th - 10th
A facsimile of a portion of the map created in 1697 describing the exploration and discoveries of Father Louis Hennepin in New France and Along the Mississippi. The map shows the region from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico along...
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: The Mighty Mississippi

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Lesson about basics of river systems and vocabulary - ends with a pop quiz. Some math involved for fun and science too.
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Website
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: Battle of New Madrid and Island No. 10

For Students 9th - 10th
Find three articles and a map about the blockading of the Mississippi River by the Confederate troops and the running of that blockade by Union ironclads.
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Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: James Buchanan Eads 1820 1887 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography James Buchanan Eads (1820-1887) and the story of his attempts to tame the mighty Mississippi River with science and technology during and after the Civil War.
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Handout
Other

Military History Encyclopedia on the Web: Battle of New Madrid, 13 March 1862

For Students 9th - 10th
A good description of the Battle of New Madrid and an explanation of why the course of the Mississippi River affected the battle.
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Handout
Other

Military History Encyclopedia on the Web: Naval Battle of Memphis, 6 June 1862

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting account of the battle between Union and Confederate gunboats which resulted in the surrender of Memphis and the opening of the Mississippi River south to Vicksburg.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Louisiana Purchase (1803)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this map-based lesson, students learn the historic importance of the Mississippi River, why the U.S. was determined to maintain access, and how the United States acquired the land that made up the Louisiana Purchase.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Maps Etc: The Upper Mississippi River, 1911

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1911 showing the old and new channels of the Mississippi at the upper rapids, near Fulton, Illinois. The map shows bluffs and river valleys indicating past river channels.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Mississippi River

For Students 9th - 10th
From Wikipedia, which is an online free encyclopedia, find a very comprehensive entry that includes the history, geography, navigation, major cities along the river and notable bridges.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Mississippi River

For Students 9th - 10th
From Wikipedia, which is an online free encyclopedia, find a very comprehensive entry that includes the history, geography, navigation, major cities along the river and notable bridges.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Mississippi River

For Students 9th - 10th
From Wikipedia, which is an online free encyclopedia, find a very comprehensive entry that includes the history, geography, navigation, major cities along the river and notable bridges.
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Handout
Other

River Systems of the World

For Students 9th - 10th
Find statistics about the many river systems of the world. Includes facts such as length, drainage area, cities, notable tributaries, and more. Also provides links to sites about some of the rivers.
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Graphic
University of Georgia

University of Georgia: The Mississippi Territory (1814)

For Students 9th - 10th
An 1814 American map of the territory of the lower Mississippi valley; part of the larger Louisiana Purchase that President Jefferson purchased from the French in 1803.
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eBook
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: The Circus Boys on the Mississippi by Edgar B. P. Darlington

For Students 4th - 6th
Classic Reader provides numerous classic works from famous authors. One work is Edgar B. P. Darlington's book titled The Circus Boys on the Mississippi, or Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River. Published in the early 1900s, this is...
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Down the Ohio and Into the Wilderness

For Students 9th - 10th
The expedition spent two and a half months descending the Ohio River. This journal entry describes the Corps of Discovery and their journey down that river.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Geography for Kids: World Rivers

For Students 1st - 9th
Study the world rivers like the Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, Mississippi, Lena, Yellow, and Congo Rivers on this website.

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