PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT

At the turn of the century, America welcomed a new leader after the tragic assassination of President McKinley.  Known as a war hero, outdoorsman, and adventurer, Theodore Roosevelt would step into his new role as president of the U.S. in 1901.  Read the following article to learn more about this dynamic president.

http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/theodoreroosevelt.php

Watch the following video about Roosevelt's childhood:

Watch this video to find out more about Roosevelt as president.

Finally, here is a video about the history of the "teddy bear."

THE PANAMA CANAL

In the early 1900s the only way to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean by boat was to go all the way around South America, a long and dangerous trip.  The United States became very interested in finding a shortcut route so ships could complete the journey in less time.  Watch this video to learn more about how the Panama Canal became the solution to this problem.

                                      

Here is another video describing how the Panama Canal works.

                                                

Read the following article to learn some more information:
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/important-historical-panama-kids-13630.html


Click here to do online puzzles of canal equipment:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/persona/k/juegos/jigsaw-02.html

IMMIGRATION, ELLIS ISLAND,

AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

Starting in the mid 1800's Europeans began immigrating to America.  There were political problems in Europe complicated by a potato famine in Ireland and crop failure in Germany.  These immigrants were in search of a better life in America.  Once they arrived in America, immigrants had to be approved to enter the country at a place called Ellis Island.  Watch this video to learn more.

Check out this website for more Ellis Island and Immigration fun. 

 http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/index.htm


Click here to play an immigration game.
 http://www.tenement.org/immigrate/
 

The Statue of Liberty is the landmark the immigrants longed to see after their long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.  Watch this video to learn some interesting facts.

Re-enactment of the Battle Of Gettysburg

The Civil War

THE CIVIL WAR

This is a renactment of a Civil War battle. The Civil War was a war between the Northern and Southern states. In the video, you will see the Union soldiers in blue and the Confederate soldiers in gray. Many men fought and died. Over 600,000 men died on both sides. The South was fighting because they felt they were being taxed unfairly and didn't have enough power to make their own decisions. The South also wanted to keep slavery legal and the North wanted to set the slaves free. Watch these videos and see what a battle would have looked like.

Click on this link for a timeline of the Civil War.     http://www.ducksters.com/history/civilwartimeline.php

Click here to learn about Daily Life during the Civil War.   http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/life_during_the_civil_war.php

What was life as a soldier like?  http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/life_as_a_soldier_during_the_civil_war.php

What did the uniforms look like?  http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/military_uniforms.php

THE LIFE OF 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

 

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was an amazing man.

The link below is to a timeline created and illustrated by 2nd graders.  See if you can pass the quiz at the end.

http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/lincoln/lincoln.htm 

Click on this video

Click on this link to see pictures and read about the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/lincoln.html

Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad

 

Harriet Tubman was an amazing and brave women. I hope that you would be that brave if you had lived during Harriet's time. Watch the videos below to learn  about the Underground Railroad,  Harriet Tubman and what a brave woman she was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hthvETfIK28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BtoQMiayTM

The website below is pretty cool.
At the top of the page you can click on "Begin the Journey" to escape to freedom just like the slaves.
Also check out the slideshows and activities. 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/index.htm

Oregon Trail

Life of a Pioneer

The life of a pioneer on the Oregon Trail was exciting, adventurous and unpredictable.  

Click on the links below to learn more.

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/oregon_trail.php

http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/


Click on this video.

Fall 2013 Welcome

Welcome to the Fall 2013 

History Detective Blog

The topics we will cover this semester are:

1. The Oregon Trail     September 6

2. Underground Railroad/Harriet Tubman   Sept. 20

3.  Life of Abraham Lincoln    October 4

4.  The Civil War    October 18

5.  Immigration/Statue of Liberty    November 1

6.  Panama Canal     November 22

7.  Theodore Roosevelt    December 9

There is no text for this year.  I would recommend checking out books from the library to read aloud or for the child to read independently.  Given the popularity of these topics the options are extensive!  .  It's going to be a fun semester!

The Gold Rush

Watch this movie on the Gold Rush to get the answers to your homework. Many men traveled out to California to find gold. They wanted to be rich so bad that they would take the long journey.These men were said to have "Gold Fever", they didn't have a fever, they were just crazy to find gold. Many of these men left for the Gold rush in 1849 to California. They were called the 49ers.




More information on the California Gold Rush

Searching for Gold

Top of Page

49'er and Mule (Source: Library of Congress) In the early days of 1848 and 1849, it was not uncommon for a miner to dig $2000 of gold a day. But the average miner might have been lucky to find $10 per day. As time went on the easy gold was all found. Although some made it rich, most of the others were lucky if they made enough to eat. After 1852 most of the surface gold was mined, panning for gold was no longer profitable. This picture shows a 49er with his mule and supplies. Thousands of miners died on the journey or in the diggings. Many died from disease, or from accidents such as drowning in a river.

Camping and Housing

Top of Page

Miners Camping (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners lived in tents and cooked their food over an open fire. Meals were usually beans, bacon or local game cooked over an open fire. Most camps and mining towns were canvas tents or wooden buildings. Fires were very common. Many camps and towns were completely destroyed by fire. Some several times. Heavy rain and snow during the winter months made for very difficult living and mining conditions. Most miners spent the winter in San Francisco or some mining town. Sickness and colds were common from sleeping on cold, damp ground. The food was not very nutritious resulting in generally poor health. Scurvy was common from lack of fruits and vegetables. Sanitation was poor and miners seldom bathed or washed their clothes.

Family and Friends

Top of Page

Miners Camp in the Evening (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners came by themselves, leaving their families at home. Many young miners suffered from home sickness from being alone. This picture shows a group of travelers setting up camp.Some families did make the trip to California. Many miners formed friendships and communities with other travelers. Card games, gambling and betting were common ways to pass the time.

Click on this link to play a Gold Rush game

http://www.huntington.org/Education/GoldRush/game/index.htm

Trail Of Tears Short Documentary

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

The Trail of Tears was a sad part of American history.  It began with the Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson.  It stated that the United States would pay the Native Americans for their land.  The majority of Native Americans did not want to leave their land.  Five Native American tribes were forced to leave their land and move west.  These tribes were the Creeks, Choctaws, Seminoles, Chickasaws and the Cherokee.  They were forced to travel 800 miles by foot to the west.  8000 Cherokee Indians died.




Watch this video to learn about the details of how the Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their land.

http://youtu.be/xwBXOxQqkGc

 

Extra Credit Options:
1. Color the American Tragedies map and/or the Cherokee Indian
2. Learn the 11 Native American Sign Language Words
3.  Write a paragraph about one of the 5 major tribes that were forced to leave their land.
4.  Write a paragraph describing the conditions and details of the Trail of Tears.
5.  Make a Native American drum or vest and bring it to co-op for the Native American Pow-Wow

Here are the kids sharing their extra credit reports and displaying their drawings of an invention.  We have some creative kids!!!

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

To find out how the industrial revolution began, watch this video.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LbAOseDs3KY#t=0s

Why did children work during the industrial revolution?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U2M9i1Wy6IU

Who was Eli Whitney?  What was the cotton gin?  Click on this link to learn more.

http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/cottonGin.html









EXTRA CREDIT OPTIONS

1. BRING A PICTURE OF AN INVENTION AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE HOW IT AIDED THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

2. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT CHILD LABOR

3.  FIND DIRECTIONS ONLINE AND MAKE A COTTON GIN.  BRING IT TO CO-OP AND SHOW THE CLASS HOW IT WORKS

4.  ASK YOUR MOM FOR A LIST OF JOBS TO DO AROUND THE HOUSE.  COME TO CO-OP WITH A LIST OF THE JOBS YOU DID IN ONE DAY, HOW LONG YOU WORKED, AND HOW YOU FELT AFTERWARD.

 Having some fun in history.  The kids acting out the King of England taxing the colonists.  Also the re-enactment of the Lexington-Concord Battle.  Some of the girls played the role of Molly Pitcher.