Homesteading: The Free Land Idea. An Activity Guide for Teachers Grades 4 through 6.

This curriculum/activity guide is designed for use by teachers and other educators who live within trip distance of Homestead National Monument of America in Nebraska. However, some activities in the guide are designed for the classroom, and some are more effective if they are conducted outdoors; but many can be completed at school. The activity guide presents unique offerings of teacher resources available from Homestead National Monument of America. The guide activities, written for upper elementary grades, can be modified for other grade levels. The guide is organized into seven units, each relating a specific topic. Each activity in the unit provides background information, themes, educational objectives, reproducible pages, and materials sheets. "Unit 1--Homestead and the Park Service" introduces students to the National Park Service and the monument. "Unit 2--Homestead History" shows students what a person had to do to file a homestead claim and gain ownership. "Unit 3--Prairie Balance" describes the ecosystem of the prairie environment. "Unit 4--People on the Plains" introduces students to a wide variety of people who lived on the plains, starting with Native American Indians and those who came west to settle. "Unit 5--Prairie Life" helps students understand that free land had a cost for homesteaders and assists students in discovering how pioneers live on the prairie as a homesteader. "Unit 6--The Legacy" helps students draw conclusions for understanding the Homestead Act of 1862. "Unit 7--Resource Materials and Bibliography" lists possible resources for more knowledge. (BT)