Describes L. S. Kenworthy's 1936 article on famous American immigrants, and discusses its usefulness as a resource for social studies teachers. (SR)

Settlers who pushed west over the Great Divide to the shores of the Pacific Ocean found the American West to be an expanse of extreme differences in time, topography, and ways of life. This paper elaborates on several historic sites in the American West. The purpose of the paper is to introduce a series of places to the students and teachers of…

Early European and Euro-American artists documented the land, people, flora, and fauna of western North America. These artists gave Europeans and eastern Americans their first glimpse of the west. Because artists were important to the early explorers and topographers of the west, this document advocates study of western art and artists as an…

In 1937, teacher and educator Leonard S. Kenworthy wrote an article in which he suggested that poetry was a useful aid in teaching U.S. history. This paper reviews Kenworthy's article, including his rationale for the use of verse in teaching history, methods by which poetry could be incorporated into the curriculum and used in the classroom, and…

Many sites in the south central states recall the procession of people who came across the continent with the passing frontier. This paper elaborates on several historic sites in the south central United States. The purpose of the paper is to introduce a series of places to the students and teachers of U.S. history. The paper recommends that…

The people and places of the Old West (Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado) are found within the pages of four books published between 1994 and 2000. A whole host of settlers, doctors, dentists, butchers, bakers, barbers, and boot makers traveled west during the 1800s to turn an open prairie into a promised land. Short sketches of groups of people…

This project began with a list of the kinds of topics that would be of most interest in a study of the old west. Some of the topics that were mentioned for the project included Lewis and Clark, Native American tribes and nations, early pioneers, the fur trade, Texas independence, the Pony Express, homesteaders, gunfighters, the Indian wars, and…

Discusses two resources for helping students understand the Old West in U.S. history. Presents information from a primary source concerning Wild Bill Hickok and a more recent interpretative essay about myths of the Old West. Includes suggestions for classroom activities and topics for student discussion. (CFR)

This paper discusses the Pony Express and offers the use of anecdotes as a way to make history more interesting to students. Along with facts about the Pony Express, there are activities for writing projects for enrichment purposes. Activities include: (1) letter writing; (2) news releases; and (3) diary writing. Suggestions are made for similar…

This paper introduces topics about the American West to teachers and students of U.S. history and suggests that interested students can pursue the topics at greater length. The report is based on information from the novelist, Tony Hillerman, who states in "The Best of the West" (1991) that there are many firsthand accounts and other…