The Demise of the Great American Frontier: Westward Spread of American population from 1790 to 1900
In this lesson, students interpret Census data and combine maps to visually see how increased population put an end to the great American frontier.

American Frontier:
Although this lesson plan is at the high school level, it may be modified in order to illustrate what the concept of "frontier" meant in the nineteenth century.

Gold Fever! Seattle Outfits the Klondike Gold Rush:
Students examine how the discovery of gold in the Canada's remote Klondike region touched off the last great gold rush, creating an economic boom that changed the city of Seattle forever, thereby influencing the demise of the frontier.

Castolon: A Meeting Place of Two Cultures:
By 1900, the area of the Rio Grande began to attract American and Mexican farmers and ranchers interested in establishing homesteads and raising families. In this lesson, students compare the Spanish and Anglo influences on settlements along the Texas-Mexico border region of the Rio Grande and speculate as to how this was a factor contributing the "end of the frontier."

The Freeman School: Building Prairie Communities:
Examine this one-room school in Nebraska and consider the important role it played in the community, and westward expansion, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Skagway: Gateway to the Klondike:
Join the stampede for gold when over 100,000 prospectors set out for the Klondike.  Students draw inferences to how this late 19th century Alaskan gold rush contributed to the end of what was then known as the "last frontier."

Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoos Cast Their Spell:
Explore the natural wonders of this once remote area in Utah and learn how it became a popular tourist destination in the early 20th century and finally a national park.

Rich, Poor, or Somewhere in the Middle:
This lesson offers students an opportunity to use economic and social indicators to identify the connection between a country's access to resources and its economic development.

Where in the World is Muscle Shoals & Vance, Alabama?
In this lesson, provided by the Geography Department at the University of North Alabama, students analyze how geography influences major economic activity in the state of Alabama.  From the resources of the Tennessee River to manufacturing and distribution, students learn how geography affects economic activity.

"Ad-ing" to Geography:
Students should be able to classify several economic activities and to analyze these spatial patterns. They will use advertisements for contemporary products to explore economic and geographic concepts presented in the lesson.

Oil: The Problem or Solution to the World's Economic Future
This lesson requires students to analyze maps and charts in determining the distribution of oil on the Earth's surface and the economic impact oil transportation networks have on the rest of the world's economy.

We’re Interconnected? Beep Beep!:
Most Americans drive automobiles, but do they understand where their vehicles are produced? We all know that one way or another we are all interconnected but it’s amazing to discover that we are interconnected by automobiles. The lesson will also point out how geography and the factors of production help determine the locations of automobile manufacturing plants.

Planning a New Town:
In this lesson students will make decisions about buildings, businesses, services, and housing areas to include in the development of a new town.

California ghost town:
In this lesson, students will practice applying their geography skills and knowledge to making predictions and plans for the future. They will learn about the California ghost town of Bodie and pretend that the state wants to bring the town back to life.

Spatial patterns:
Spatial patterns are all around us, from the arrangement of plants in our yards to the positions of desks in our classrooms. The ability to recognize and describe patterns within the distribution of physical and human features on Earth is essential to developing a geographic perspective. In this lesson, students analyze the distribution of businesses and residences within their own communities in order to develop a more sophisticated understanding of already familiar places.

Top Ten Cities:
This lesson introduces or reviews the locations of the most populous cities in your state, province, or country. It also introduces population distribution.

Site vs. Situation:  Location! Location!  Location!:
You’ve heard the phrase, “Location matters.”  This lesson illustrates why this is so.  An examination of places that have a similar latitude to Alabama will reveal the importance of a location’s site versus its situation.  Upon completion of the lesson, the importance of taking into account the totality of a location’s geography should be clear.

Wow! You're Eating Geography:
Students will map and graph the major food crops of the local area, U.S. areas, and other countries and discuss how climate affects the economy of these regions.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park:
 Among these eight lesson plans are activities that show relationships between population and resources (particularly the Pacific Ocean).

A Look at the Population Density of the United States:
This lesson from National Geographic focuses on the spatial distribution of the population density of the United States at different levels of scale.  This will enable students to organize spatial information in categories, analyze the information, and draw conclusions.

Population Pyramids and Us:
Upon completing this lesson, students should understand the demographic structure of a population and be able to describe population structure using population pyramids.

United States' Cities with High Population: The Common Thread:
Find out why certain cities in the United States are more populous than others. 

United We Stand:
In this lesson, students, identify the issues involved with the migration of a community or family into the state of Nebraska. By examining the traditional picture of immigration, students then turn the microscope onto their own families to have a better idea of their own history and their own voices.

Irish Famine: Emigration: Departure, Crossing and Arrival:
In this activity, students will be able to describe the conditions on board the "coffin ships" and examine the problems faced by Famine victims before and during their transport to America.

Locke and Walnut Grove: Havens for Early Asian Immigrants in California:
In this lesson, students will understand the experience of early Asian immigrants and the obstacles they encountered as they struggled to make a living and find a place in American society.

Interpreting Population Statistics:
This lesson introduces students to such population statistics as birth, death, and literacy rates.

Migration and Immigration in the United States: Three Case Studies.
This lesson provides three (3) mini-lessons, or activities. In the activities, students will compare and contrast the settlement and resettlement experiences of three different cultural groups. In addition, students will practice organizational strategies such as using timelines, cause and effect maps, geographical map templates and generalization charts through which to learn about a historical period.

The Murder of Emmett Till: Teacher's Guide:
Provided by PBS, this lesson plan is centered around the murder of Emmett Till. Students are also asked to discuss segregation, violence, and the Great Migration. This lesson plan is broken into four parts.

The Gilded Age Industry (WebQuest).
This is a a student-produced multimedia slide show centered on technology, big business, immigration (and reaction) and urban issues.

They Came to America:
In this lesson, students research reasons people came and patterns of where they came from, take on an identity of an immigrant  and research Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

A Look at the Population Density of the United States:
This lesson from National Geographic focuses on the spatial distribution of the population density of the United States at different levels of scale.  This will enable students to organize spatial information in categories, analyze the information, and draw conclusions.

The West (PBS).
 A worthwhile supplement to Ken Burn's documentary. Has a timeline, glossary, biographies, a photo gallery, maps, documents, and more. A great general site.

America's West - Development & History.
This site covers westward expansion, Native Americans, Cowboys, Pioneers, Gunslingers, etc. Has images, maps, music, small 'research' areas and even a 3-D tour.

Lewis and Clark (PBS).
A companion to Ken Burns' PBS film, this site provides background on the world of Lewis and Clark, an archive of their expedition, audio excerpts by historians, a discussion of Native American tribes encountered , classroom resources, and an interactive story where you lead the expedition.

Discovering Lewis and Clark.
This site has more than 1400 pages and revolves around a nineteen-part analysis of the Lewis and Clark expedition by historian Harry Fritz.

End of the Oregon Trail.
This Web site is from the Oregon Trail Foundation, a nonprofit organization which exists to manage and develop the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City, Oregon. The site contains a library of historical resources on the Oregon Trail and the early period of settlement in the Pacific Northwest.

The Donner Party (PBS).
Part of PBS's American Experience series, this site tells the story of an ill-fated immigrant group who set out for California in 1846. Included are a teacher's guide, background on western migration, a map of the route, and recommended readings.

The Gold Rush (PBS).
This PBS offering includes classroom resources and "fun facts" for kids.

The U.S.-Mexican War (PBS).
Part of PBS Online, this bilingual (Spanish-English) site examines the Mexican-American War and includes a timeline, dialogues (essays), teaching resources and more.

Peopling North America.
The University of Calgary History Department provides an historical overview of migratory movements to and within Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Mountain Men and the Fur Trade.
This home page is an on-line Research Center devoted to the history, traditions, tools, and mode of living, of the trappers, explorers, and traders known as the Mountain Men. Features an archive, a gallery, a museum, a discussion group and more.

Index of Native American Resources on the Web.
Many categories of links from WWW Virtual Library -- American Indians. 

The Iron Road (PBS).
Part of PBS's American Experience series, this site is the story of the building of the first east-west railroad link. There is a teacher's guide, a bibliography, photos and recommended readings.

The Northern Great Plains, 1880-1920 (Library of Congress).
This site has over 900 images of rural and small town life in the North West.

Old Wild West.
This site features stories of the Old West from the Abilene Reporter-News archives and other resources. There is information on the Alamo, Sam Houston, Texas Rangers, Billy the Kid, Pancho Villa, Davy Crockett and others.

Progressive Era (1890-1913):
The Library of Congress

American Memory
A gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

Digital History.
This site provides links to American history web sites by period and provide historical overviews, readings, primary source documents, maps, cartoons, teaching resources, and audio-visual resources.

Animated Atlas.
Animated Atlas portrays history by animating maps. This site features a ten minute, interactive movie which is a geographic history of the United States, locating major events and the admission of every state. Also sells classroom videos.

Shock-ing Geography.
At this site, students can quiz themselves on physical, current political and some historical map information. Instructors can have results of student self-quizzes emailed to them. Requires Shockwave software plug-in (available download free).

Real-Time Satellite Images
See satellite images and data. Even get real-time images of various landscapes on earth's surface, and then use the data to show relationships to resources (i.e., water) and population. 

The Port of San Francisco:
Born out of the Gold Rush, today's Port of San Francisco is a public agency responsible for managing the 7-1/2 miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline stretching from Hyde Street Pier in the north to India Basin in the south. 

Library of Congress American Memory
A gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

OSSHE Historic Atlas Resource Library.
Extensive, colorful, and often interactive, the maps in this library cover Europe, Middle East, North Africa and North America.

Map Machine (National Geographic).
This site features physical and political characteristics of countries and includes aerial views. There are profiles, facts, and flags that accompany the maps.

Boundaries of the Contiguous United States.
This animated map illustrates the expanding boundaries of the American continent.

Landmarks in Immigration History Timeline.
This resource provides a timeline that milestones the history of our nation's ethnic groups and the development of American immigration policies.

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