Culminating activities including a mock archaeological dig, a comparative research project, and a final unit assessment.

Introduction to Indiana's first inhabitants and the development of the Early and Middle Woodland mound-building cultures (Adena and Hopewell).

A creative social studies and literacy activity where students transform their reading about global celebrations into a detailed, illustrated postcard for a friend.

A deep dive into the origins and daily life of early Texas ranching, focusing on Spanish vaquero influences, the open range era, and the practicalities of frontier cattle management. Students analyze historical imagery and organize research on ranching innovations and hardships.

Explore the rugged daily life of a cowboy during the era of the great cattle drives, focusing on the logistics and challenges of the Chisholm Trail. Students will learn about the roles in a cattle crew and the environmental factors of the frontier.

A lesson exploring the historic cattle trails of the American West, focusing on the Chisholm and Goodnight-Loving trails. Students will learn about the economic impact and geographic routes of these famous paths.

Students are introduced to their country research mission, learn about credible kid-friendly websites, and begin gathering data across four key categories using a structured organizer.