Resource Overview

This teacher resource contains prompt cards, maps and a station set up guide to accompany Geography and History: A Map-Based Inquiry Lesson Plan. Use these resources to facilitate the Explore portion of the lesson. More information on how to use these resources is located in the teacher lesson plan.

Station Set Up Guide:

The station activity has two options: station rotations or stationary stations.

• For the stationary option, print all of the resources for each group. (4 maps and 8 prompt cards)
• For the rotation option, create 8 locations in the classroom with the following materials:
  • Station 1: Prompt card 1, Topography Map
  • Station 2: Prompt card 2, Territory Expansion
  • Station 3: Prompt card 3, U.S. Population Over Time
  • Station 4: Prompt card 4, Railroads as of 1869
  • Station 5: Prompt card 5, U.S. Population Over Time + Topography Map
  • Station 6: Prompt card 6, Railroads as of 1869 + Territory Expansion
  • Station 7: Prompt card 7, Railroads as of 1869 + Population Map
  • Station 8: Prompt card 8, Territorial Expansion + Topography Map

Prompt Cards

Prompt 1: Which type of landform are cities most likely to develop near? Use the following map for this prompt: Topography Map	Prompt 2: Which century or decade saw the largest expansion in U.S. territory? Use the following map for this prompt: Territory Expansion
Prompt 3: How long did it take the United States to grow from 4 million to 50 million people? Use the following map for this prompt: U.S. Population Over Time	Prompt 4: Which states were not connected to the railroad system in 1869? Use the following map for this prompt: Railroads as of 1869
Prompt 5: Which region, or group of states, had the lowest population density in 1860, and what physical features may have caused this? Use the following maps for this prompt: U.S. Population Over Time + Topography Map	Prompt 6: Which part of the United States contains the most railroads and what might explain this? Use the following maps for this prompt: Railroads as of 1869 + Territory Expansion
Prompt 7: Which areas of the United States contain the most railroads and what population trends might explain this? Use the following maps for this prompt: Railroads as of 1869 + Population Map	Prompt 8: Which U.S. territories were added in 1803 and 1845, and what geographic features made them attractive? Use the following maps for this prompt: Territorial Expansion + Topography Map