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.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
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.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least five important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than five important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items that are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. They enhance the poster by symbolizing or illustrating important facts about the figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the scenes, characters and items is too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Transcontinental Railroad Biography
How To Guide Students in Presenting Their Biography Posters Confidently
Empower your students to share their research with clarity and pride by preparing them for engaging presentations. This helps build communication skills and deepens understanding.
Model a strong biography poster presentation
Show students what a successful presentation looks like by sharing a sample poster and demonstrating clear, expressive speaking. Highlight how to introduce the person, share key facts, and explain why their accomplishments matter.
Assign practice partners for peer feedback
Pair students up and have them take turns presenting to each other. Encourage active listening and provide a simple checklist for giving kind, helpful feedback on speaking volume, eye contact, and poster clarity.
Coach students to use visuals effectively
Remind students to point to images and key words on their posters while speaking. This keeps the audience engaged and helps presenters stay on track.
Celebrate presentations with positive recognition
After each student presents, offer specific praise for their effort and unique insights. Foster a supportive classroom environment by inviting a round of applause or a short positive comment from the audience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Transcontinental Railroad Biography
What is the Transcontinental Railroad biography poster activity for students?
The Transcontinental Railroad biography poster activity asks students to research a notable person connected to the railroad's construction and create a poster highlighting their accomplishments, life dates, and contributions. This hands-on project helps students understand the history and diverse figures involved.
Who are some important people students can research for a Transcontinental Railroad biography poster?
Students can research key figures like Oakes Ames, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Theodore Judah, Abraham Lincoln, and Chinese immigrant railroad workers. The list includes engineers, financiers, politicians, and diverse laborers who played vital roles in building the Transcontinental Railroad.
How can middle school teachers guide students in creating effective biography posters?
Teachers can support students by providing biography poster templates, clear requirements (name, image, birth/death dates, accomplishments), and research tips. Encouraging creativity and the use of images and descriptive words helps students make engaging posters.
What information should be included on a Transcontinental Railroad biography poster?
A complete biography poster should feature the person’s name, image, birth and death dates, and a list of their key accomplishments or notable moments related to the Transcontinental Railroad. Visuals and brief descriptions enhance understanding.
Why is it important for students to learn about the people behind the Transcontinental Railroad?
Learning about these individuals gives students a deeper, more compassionate understanding of the railroad’s history, highlighting diverse perspectives and the cultural impact of this major American achievement.
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