National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Support the National Park Service
Bent's Old Fort National Historic SitePicture of fort in the spring
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Curriculum Materials

The lessons below were developed to help students gain an understanding of the people, time and place of Bent’s Old Fort. The lessons can be used for stand alone, in class or pre and post visit of the Fort. History, math, science, geography, reading and writing have been included in the lessons. The activities were developed to meet curriculum standards of grades 4-6. Downloads are available for individual lessons and require Adobe Reader. We would like to hear your comments about the lessons.

Lesson 1 - What I Think I Know [61K PDF]
Goal: The students will complete a pre assessment activity to establish baseline knowledge that will assist the teacher in planning for the Bent’s Fort connection of Colorado History.

Lesson 2 - The National Parks and You [47K PDF]
Goals: The students will be able to explain what a National Park is and why is it a part of the National Park Service.  They will learn why National Parks are important and what the visitors responsibility is towards a National Park site.

Lesson 3 - Past Information: How Do We Know? [39K PDF]
Goals: Students will understand how we know about life in the early 1800’s when no one is alive from that time period to inform us.

Lesson 4 - Time Travel [166K PDF]
Goal: The students will understand the chronological organization of historical events and people.

Lesson 5 - Map It Up [39K PDF]
Goal: The students will construct maps to locate and derive information about people, places, and environments.

Lesson 6 - Why Do People Move? [37K PDF]
Goal: The students will learn the reasons of why people moved west in the 1800's and compare to today.  

Lesson 7 - Compare and Contrast [37K PDF] Goal: The students will understand the diversity of people, technology, economics, and science, and how each has changed over time.

Lesson 8 - Bent’s Fort Mini Book [66K PDF] Goal: The students will be exposed to the history of Bent’s Fort, its impact on the opening of the West and the cultural exchanges that occurred there.

Lesson 9 - Bent’s Fort: Historical Inquiry [40K PDF]
Goal: Students will understand how to use the processes and resources of historical inquiry.

 
Travelers unhitch their animals in the side corral  

Did You Know?
Many of the west’s most important men passed through the gates of Bent’s Fort. Some of their names were Joseph Walker, John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, Bill Williams, Tom Fitzpatrick, Dick Wooten, Francis Parkman, Marcus Whitman, General Kearny, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, and George Ruxton.

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: April 20, 2008 at 07:59 EST