Transcontinental Railroad Fieldwork
Expedition Kick-off
 

Today was a fabulous day for a hike through the tunnels and snowsheds built in the 1840’s by Chinese laborers in an effort to construct the first transcontinental railroad.  Welch crew students were able to experience first hand the hardships and determination these immigrants faced each day for many years.  Our guide, Greg Palmer, led the students through the tunnels, while telling tales of the construction of the railroad and giving us valuable historical information for the beginning of our Expedition, “I’ve been working on the Railroad.”

Each week I will post a Question of the Week.  The purpose of the Question of the Week is to give parents a specific question to ask their child about the learning happening in the classroom.  You will always get more information from your child if the question is specific in nature rather than broad in scope, i.e. What did you learn today?

Quesiton of the Week:  What are some interesting facts you learned today while hiking through the tunnels and snowsheds on Donner Summit?

Possible topics that were shared during our debrief at school today:
 

  • The difference between a tunnel and a snowshed
  • The longest tunnel – #6
  • The second shortes tunnel – #7
  • The purpose of the vertical shaft in the middle of tunnel #6
  • Who were the main workers building the railroad?
  • The purpose of the snowsheds
  • Snowshed were originally wooden, and now they are cement

These are just a few responses from the students and your child may have even more to share.

Our fieldwork today was the perfect beginning to a wonderfully rich Expedition.  I am looking forward to continuing the learning with your child as the year progresses.