Guide Author

Joyce Baumann and Terri Haakenson

District

ROCORI

Date Created

09/21/2011

Guide Description

A look at the impact of railroads on the industrial development and inhabitation of Minnesota. This guide is appropriate for a variety of grades, but focuses primarily on grade 6. As an end product, students can write a paper on how Minnesota was influenced by the expansion of railroads.

Title of Main Academic Standard used in Guide

Minnesota DRAFT K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies - April 29, 2011

Grade Level

Grades 6

Learning Level

Introductory

National Holiday/Special Occasion (optional)

Source Format Emphasized

photographs

Geographic Region Emphasized (optional)

Minnesota

Other Minnesota Reflections Guide(s) Related to this Guide (optional)

Pioneers by Haakenson and Baumann

Standard Title

Minnesota DRAFT K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies - April 29, 2011

Category

U.S. History (specific to Minnesota)

Strand

Geography

Sub-strand

Concepts of Location

Standard

Major physical and cultural features were important in the history of Minnesota.

Benchmark 1: standard number

6.3.1.1.1

Benchmark 1: text

Explain the importance of physical features and changes in transportation technology in the establishment and growth of Minnesota's largest cities.

Benchmark 2: standard number

Benchmark 2: text

Benchmark 3: standard number

Benchmark 3: text

Benchmark 4: standard number

Benchmark 4: text

Standard Title

Minnesota Academic Standards English Language Arts K-12 2010

Category

Strand

Writing

Sub-strand

Standard

Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Benchmark 1: standard number

6.7.2.2

Benchmark 1: text

Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

Establish and maintain a formal style.

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Benchmark 2: standard number

Benchmark 2: text

Benchmark 3: standard number

Benchmark 3: text

Benchmark 4: standard number

Benchmark 4: text

Reading: standard number

6.5.7.7

Reading: standard text

Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g. visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Math: standard number

Math: standard text

Media Literacy: standard number

6.9.2.2

Media Literacy: standard text

Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g. visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.

Interdisciplinary Connection

History, reading, writing

Things to Think About

It may be helpful to view individual collections as not all pictures are tagged with keywords related to railroads.

Keywords

railroads, trains, stations, caboose, boxcars, trestle

Other ideas (to assist with discovery)

Maps and plat books may help students analyze development of areas based on the expansion of railroads.

Challenges to finding resources on this standard

Not all keywords are tagged on pictures.

Title

Date created

Description

Format (photo, map, letter …)

"Cite the Item" link

Carrying the gospel message to the railroad shops of the city workers at noon meeting at Soo Line shops prior to 1900.

1900-1910

This picture shows a large group of railroad workers meeting for a gospel meeting. Many YMCAs started to meet the needs of railroad workers. Why would the YMCA focus on railroad workers?

Still Image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/umk/id/34

Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Depot, Belview, Minnesota

This postcard shows a train pulling into a station. Use the zoom feature to focus on what is on the handcart, waiting to be loaded on the train. It appears to be milk containers and bushels of produce. How would the railroad influence the sail of such goods?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/swede/id/9

Cold Spring Granite Company main plant

1928?

A view of the Cold Spring Granite Company's main plant. It is obvious that there is rail access to the plant. Why would this be important?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/stearns/id/723

Watab Pulp & Paper Mill

1907

This picture shows a large supply of wood, ready to be transported. How do you think the railroad influenced the development of this industry in Minnesota?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/stearns/id/210

Railroad locomotive in the snow, Morris, Minnesota

1917

This picture shows a locomotive stuck in the snow. How would they get this train out? Do you think there was specialized equipment or would it need to be dug out by hand?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ste/id/987

Northern Pacific train accident, Morris, Minnesota

1917

This picture shows a train accident. Do you think there were injuries with this accident?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ste/id/986

Bird's eye view, Morris, Minnesota

1909

This picture shows Morris, MN. The train tracks are a prominent feature in the town. How do you think the railroad impacted the development of this town?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ste/id/1376

World War I Soldiers boarding a train, Morris, Minnesota

1917

This picture shows World War I soldiers boarding a train. How did the railroad system accommodate the needs of the country during times of war? Zoom in to get a better look at the people at the station seeing the soldiers off.

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ste/id/1281

William Crooks locomotive, Morris, Minnesota

1905-24

This is a view of the first locomotive in Minnesota. It is named after William Crooks. Why would this train be named after him? Look at the attire of the people in front of the locomotive. Do you think they are wealthy? Why would railroad transportation be important to the upper-class of the state?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ste/id/1061

Plat Book of Sherburne County, Minnesota and Plat Book of Benton County, Minnesota

1903

This plat book shows Benton and Stearns counties. Examine the maps in the book to draw conclusions about the development of communities in connection with the railroads.

Map Collection

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/shr/id/86

Train Wreck at Shakopee

1915

This photograph shows a train wreck. Look closely at the damage to the train. Do you think anyone survived the wreck? Are the cars salvageable? There is a crane at the site. How do you think this crane is powered?

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/411

Shakopee Depot

1910-1920

This is a picture of the Shakopee Depot. Did having a train depot help the development of a community? How?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/390

Dewey at depot

1948

Thomas Dewey, a republican presidential candidate in 1948 makes a stop at the Shakopee Depot. How did rail transportation possibly impact politics and people's understanding and awareness of candidates?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/317

Belle Plaine Train Station

1900

A train at the Belle Plaine Train station. This picture gives a good comparison of the size of early locomotives in comparison to the depot and people waiting to board the train.

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/274

President Wm. H. Taft at Shakopee Railroad depot

10/24/1911

This picture shows President William H. Taft at the Shakopee Railroad Depot. Why do you think he is at a railroad depot? Would a town the size of Shakopee be a site for a presidential visit without railroad access?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/188

Gandy Dancers ballasting rails

1910

Gandy dancers were men who worked, laying railroad track. What other employment opportunities did the railroad provide? Do you think a railroad added money to local economies? How?

still images

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/176

Second Avenue

1909

A nice picture of a community, showing the development around a railroad track.

still images

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/scott/id/118

Meeting of two railroad lines, Warroad, Minnesota

1908-1909

This postcard shows the meeting of two railroad lines, the Great Northern and the Canadian National Railroad. How do you think the railroad impacted Minnesota's connections with Canada?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ros/id/242

First train in Roseau, Minnesota

1908-10-23

This is a view of the first train to come to Roseau. How do you think the residents felt about the train's arrival? What would this mean for the residents of a community?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ros/id/241

Emil Kuether Daryline, Danube, Minnesota

1901 - 1904

This postcard shows lumber being unloaded from a boxcar. What other goods do you think were transported via rail.

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ren/id/194

Morton Brick and Tile Co.

1910

This picture shows the Morton Brick and Tile Co. What do you think is transported by rail to support this business?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/ren/id/138

Working on the Railroad at Danube, Minnesota

1908-1928

This picture shows men shoveling snow off the track. What challenges do you think Minnesota's climate created for the railroad?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/ren/id/129

Railroad Depot, Oslo, Minnesota

1908

Exterior view of the Oslo railroad station which was constructed in 1906.

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/penn/id/151

Livery Barn at the sawmill on Pennington Avenue, Thief River Falls, Minnesota

1905

This is a picture of a sawmill. hat role do you think the railroad plays in this business?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/penn/id/108

Lumbering in Northern Minnesota: Old fashioned Cork White Pine and Plenty of it

1924

This picture shows lumber being loaded into railroad cars. hat is the value of the railroad to industries like lumber/timber sales?

collection of still images

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15160coll9/id/63

Omaha Railroad train wreck, near Worthington, Minnesota

02-09-1914

This picture shows a train wreck near Worthington, MN. Where could you find more information on this wreck to see if there were any causalities? Do you think

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15160coll4/id/98

Ice harvesting on Lake Okabena, Worthington, Minnesota

1890

Ice is being harvested on Lake Okabena. There appears to be train tracks in the background. Why would ice be harvested? What role would the railroad play in transporting the ice?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15160coll4/id/230

Troops leaving for the Spanish American War, Worthington, Minnesota

07/06/1898

Troops are leaving for the Spanish American War. Railroads allowed for rapid movement of troops. Why would this be important during a war?

still image

http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15160coll4/id/222

Blue Earth County Historical Society

Northeast Minnesota Historical Society

Cottonwood Country Historical Society

Olmstead Country Historical Society

Hennepin History Museum

Big Stone County Historical Society

Beltrami County Historical Society

Looking through each individual collection may yield more artifacts to enhance this guide.

Students can write a paper about the impact of the railroad on the development of Minnesota.

Have students find the different cities represented in the guide in plat books. Have them analyze the growth of different industries in these cities based on the development of the railroad.

Have students research what types of employment opportunities became available as a result of the development of the railroad.

Lesson on the Transcontinental Railroad

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/i-hear-locomotives-impact-transcontinental-railroad

Site with lesson plans and activities on railroads

http://americanhistory.mrdonn.org/railroads.html

Site with a collection of lessons and activities on railroads

http://www.lessonplanet.com/lesson-plans/transcontinental-railroad