Activity Overview
There are many interesting and influential people related to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad that students can research to gain a deeper understanding of its construction and its impact. Researching real people helps students to get a more concrete and compassionate understanding of the culture, lives and diverse perspectives of different people. In this activity, students will research a person and then create a biography poster highlighting their accomplishments or notable moments.
Find more biography poster templates to add to this assignment if desired!
Notable People Involved With the Transcontinental Railroad
- Oakes Ames (1804-1873)
- Oliver Ames (1807-1877)
- John H. Baird (1822-1880)
- Matthias Baldwin (1795-1866)
- Julius Bandmann (1825-1900)
- Central Pacific Railroad
- Lewis M. Clement (1837-1914)
- Peter Cooper (1791-1883)
- Charles Crocker (1822-1888)
- Peter A. Dey (1825-1911)
- Charles Ferdinand Dowd (1825-1904)
- John Dix (1798-1879)
- Grenville Dodge (1831-1916)
- Donner Party (Winter of 1846-1847)
- Thomas Durant (1820-1885)
- Ulysses S. Grant (18722-1885)
- Mark Hopkins, Jr. (1813-1878)
- Herbert Hoxie (1830-1886)
- William Howe (1803-1852)
- Collis P. Huntington (1821-1900)
- Theodore Judah (1826-1863)
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
- Alfred Nobel (1833-1896)
- George M. Pullman (1931-1897)
- Railroad workers (Majority: Chinese immigrants; also: Irish immigrants, German immigrants, African Americans, Mormons, Civil War veterans)
- William H. Seward (1801-1872)
- William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891)
- Leland Stanford (1824-1893)
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Brigham Young
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research a famous or notable person (or group of people) related to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Create a biography poster that highlights their major accomplishments.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct some research and learn more about your chosen person.
- On the poster, include your person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person. Add words and images to describe your person’s accomplishments.
Requirements: Person’s image, name, dates of birth/death, accomplishments.
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