IAITC Horse Lesson Booklet Activities to Complement the Horse Ag Mag! Horses have been useful animals for thousands of years. The horse has served human beings as a very important tool in progressing with the times. It was once stated, “history was written on the back of a horse.” Horses were a fixture of many ancient civilizations. Horses enabled faster commu- nication, travel, proved excellent allies in war and helped to transform agri- culture. In this booklet, the horse will again serve us by allowing an inter- esting avenue for students to practice areas of science, social studies, and math. This booklet is designed with the student audience in mind. These activities are intended to be used in the classroom as supplemental learning material. Each lesson is correlated to the Illinois State Learning Standards and As- sessment Framework. The answer sheet for each activity is provided at the end of this booklet. A visual key has also been created and used with each activity to indicate its subject area. The topics include: hands-on, science, health and nutrition, reading , math, social studies, writing, and art. Hands-on Writing Science Reading Social Science Art Math Health and Nutrition 2 Illinois Learning Standards: Reading: 1.B.2b; 1.C.2b; 1.C.2d; 2.A.2b Illinois Assessment Framework: The Reading Ranch 1.4.09; 1.4.10; 1.4.13; 1.4.14 Pages 4-9 Illinois Learning Standards: Math 6.A.2a; 6.B.2a; 6.C.2a; 7.A.2a; 7.A.2b Illinois Assessment Framework: A “Hand”some Horse 6.5.02; 6.5.04; 6.5.08; 6.5.12; 6.5.12; 6.5.15; Pages 10-13 7.5.02; 7.5.04 Illinois Learning Standards: Reading 1.A.2a; 1.A.2b, 1.B.2a Writing 3.B.2b; 3.B.2c; 3.B.2d; 3.C.2a A Horse of a Different Color Illinois Assessment Framework: Pages 14-16 1.5.02; 1.5.03; 1.5.04; 1.5.05; 1.5.07; 1.5.08 Illinois Learning Standards: Social Science 16.A.2a; 16.A.2b; 16.A.2c; 16.B.2d; 16.E.2c; Geography 17.A.2b Hoofing it Through History Illinois Assessment Framework: Pages 17-24 16.5.01; 16.5.02; 16.5.03; 15.5.04; 16.5.26; 16.5.27; 17.5.03; 17.5.04 Illinois Learning Standards: Social Studies 17.A.1a and 17.A.2a. English Language Arts 1.A.2a; 1.C.2f. Geography El Caballo (The Horse) 17.A.2b Pages 25-27 Illinois Assessment Framework: 1.5.02; 16.5.27; 17.5.03; 17.5.04 Illinois Learning Standards: Math 11.A.2b; 11.A.2e; 11.B.2c; 13.B.2a. A Work Horse Pages 28-29 Illinois Assessment Framework: Not available 3 The Reading Ranch Grade Level: 4-6 Social Studies & Reading Objective: After completing this activity, students should become more familiar with the for- mat of a short reading passage followed by multiple choice questions found on the Illinois Standards Achievement Exam (ISAT). Illinois Learning Standards: Reading: 1.B.2b; 1.C.2b; 1.C.2d; 2.A.2b Assessment Framework: 1.4.09; 1.4.10; 1.4.13; 1.4.14 Suggested Reading Materials: IAITC Horse Ag Mag Pony Express! By Steven Kroll ISBN-10: 0590202405 They’re Off: Story of the Pony Express By Cheryl Harness ISBN-10: 0689851219 Introduction: This lesson was designed to resemble a short reading passage that could be found on the ISAT test. The excerpt was created from several sources pertaining to the history of the Pony Express. Have students read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Lesson Extender! 1. To further students’ knowledge of the Pony Express create a classroom PowerPoint that highlights some of the significant figures that ran the Pony Express routes. Significant figures to search could be, but are not limited to: William Russell, Alexander Majors, Johnny Fry, Thomas Thornhill Willson (who was from DeKalb, Illinois) and William Waddell. The following web- site will be helpful in finding Pony Express Riders: http://www.xphomestation.com/ names.html#HICKOK 2. After studying the history of the Pony Express, have students pretend they are one of the riders that was responsible for delivering President Lincoln’s inaugural speech. Have them com- pose a poem or short story to describe what adventures they had while delivering the speech. Each student would represent a leg of the trip to deliver the speech to Lincoln. Have them share with the class or make a display with their writings. 4 The Pony Express 1 In the 1860’s there were no such things as cell phones and computers for email. Imagine living on the west coast of the United States and trying to get important information to the It allowed mail to travel from the east coast. Communication in East to California in just eight the time of the 1860’s was virtu- days compared to the months it ally impossible. It took a post had taken before. card more than a month to travel 4 The relay system worked by across the states. Most mail was having each rider and horse gal- delivered with the help of cov- lop at high rates of speed for ered wagons pulled by horses or distances of ten to fifteen miles. mules. Weather conditions and It was believed that most horses threats of attack only made de- traveled at about 10 mph. At livering the mail more difficult each stop a rider would receive a and slower. fresh horse and continue on. 2 The idea of an express mail There was said to be about 165 system was developed by William relay stations and each rider was Russell, Alexander Majors, and to stop at six to eight stations be- William Waddell. The three men fore they turned the mail over to were promised a million dollar a new rider. grant from the United States 5 The men and horses worked government to start the mail sys- as a team to ensure that the mail tem that would help the govern- was delivered quickly and safely. ment communicate faster. The fastest delivery was said to 3 The Pony Express was set up contain President Lincoln’s inau- to be a horse relay. The goal of gural speech and it took 7 days the Pony Express was to keep and 17 hours. the mail moving day and night. 5 Name____________________ __________ Today’s Date_________________ 4th Grade 2 1 The fastest delivery recorded by the Pony Express was delivering Why was the Pony Express creat- what piece of information? ed? A A telegram containing important Civil War information. A To allow people to be able to B An important weather forecast. send mail. C A check for William Russell. B To make it safer to send mail. D President Lincoln’s inaugural C To create a faster way to deliv- speech. er mail. D To create more jobs for people in California. 4 Which of the following men was 3 NOT involved in the creation of the Pony Express? How many relay stations were set up for the Pony Express riders? A William Russell B Abraham Lincoln A 155 C Alexander Majors B 160 D William Waddell C 165 D 175 6 Name____________________ __________ Today’s Date_________________ 4th Grade 6 True or False The Pony Express 5 was set up to be a relay system that kept the riders going day and night. What does “virtually” mean as it is used in paragraph 1? A True B False A Not able to happen. B Almost but not quite. C Can not happen without help. D Completed. 8 This writing is best described as 7 which of the following writing styles? What word could replace “developed” in paragraph 2? A Nonfiction B Fiction A Defeated C Humor B Disregarded D Biography C Established D Separated 7 Name____________________ __________ Today’s Date_________________ 6th Grade 2 1 How was the mail delivered before the Pony Express? Which type of writing is this passage? A By Train B By Mailman on foot A Narrative C In a covered wagon pulled by B Persuasive horses and mules C Expository D By automobile D Descriptive 3 4 What did riders most likely do What is the antonym for Express after their route was completed? in the sentence below? “The men developed the idea for A Rested and then waited for an express mail system.” the return mail so they could ride back towards home. B Ride back home without A Fast mail. B Slow C Set up a new home at the lo- C Quick cation where they stopped. D Speedily D Walk back to their starting location. 8 Name____________________ __________ Today’s Date_________________ 6th Grade 6 5 Why did the Pony Express have 165 relay stations? Paragraph 3 of this selection is mainly about —— A To give riders a break. B To pick up more mail. C To allow riders to switch to a A The inventors of the Pony Ex- fresh horse. press. D So riders would not get lost B How the Pony Express was set on the trail. up and where it traveled. C The fastest delivery ever made by the Pony Express. D How fast the riders went. 8 7 What does the word fresh mean in the sentence below? To learn more about the Pony Express a reader could —- “At each stop a rider would receive a fresh horse and continue on the trail.” A Research it on the Internet.