Unit 2: Western Expansion
Grade 8: American's migration into the west and its impact
Directions
Following your submission of the pre-test, review the assignment guidelines/options on the learning contract for Unit 2.
When you have reviewed the learning contract, sign the learning contract here.
Learning Contract Directions
Important Infomation on Grading, Due Dates and Expectations
Due Dates: The Unit will last 5 weeks. You will be required to submit 20 points of assignments by Friday of each week during the unit.
Late Work: Any assignments turned in after your Friday deadline will receive only half credit. You may do additional assignments in future weeks to help you reach the 100 point threshold.
Citizenship/Work Habits: A misuse of class time (behaviors such as being off task, distracting others, not following directions, not following classroom rules) will result in a reduction of points from your required weekly totals. Multiple examples of misusing class time in a period will result in the reduction of 2 points from your weekly total. This may require you to complete additional work in following weeks to make up for your lost points.
Work not meeting assignment guidelines: Any work handed in that does not meet the specific requirements listed under the assignment will result in partial credit. Points will be deducted for each required element missing. All assignments will be required to have appropriate spelling/grammar. Any points lost may be made up in later weeks by adding additional assignments to your weekly total of 20 points. (If you lose 10 points in week one you may complete 30 points worth of assignments in week two)
Required Elements
Venn Diagram on Union Pacific vs. Central Pacific (10 points)
- Create a Western Expansion Board Game with a Partner (20 points)
Task Rubrics
10 Point Options
Draw a picture showing the events of Little Big Horn
Include who, where, what information in picture. Colorful and neat.
Create a T-Chart on the pros and cons for immigrants working on the railroad
Needs 4 details on each side of the t-chart
Write a newspaper article on the life in boomtowns
Include what caused the Virginia City boomtown, negative aspects of life in boomtowns, and a description of life for its residents.
Create a campaign poster for the Populist Party
Includes two pictures (colored and neat) and a slogan for the party expressing its major platform
Create a Journal, with multiple entries, from the perspective of a man on a cattle drive
- 3 entries on different dates, describes problems they face, locations, weather
20 Point Options
Analyze the two perspectives on the Wounded Knee massacre. Write an argumentative response with evidence justifying which side you believe is credible.
After reading the two examples write a paragraph with two specific examples from the texts on which one is more credible.
Map the route taken by the Nez Perce to evade the U.S. soldiers
Using the blank map of the U.S. provided mark 10 points in which the Nez Perce stopped or had conflicts with U.S. troops.
Create a brochure getting people to ride on the Union Pacific
Include rates, description of riding, sleeping and dining conditions for various classes of cars, popular stops along the way of interest to travelers.
Draw a depiction of the impact of the railroad from the Native American perspective
Includes color, clearly shows the event from the perspective of Native Americans and shows how it impacted their life.
Write 3 letters home as a Chinese immigrant working on the railroad
Include working conditions, pay, dangerous weather, dangerous work with explosives, Charles Crooker, discrimination toward the immigrants.