Texas Ranch House

Once you finish reading the instructions below, click on the link above to access PBS and its information on the Old West.

You will also find links to various activities. For your assignment you must complete and turn in the following activities:
1) Click on the link ‘Visit the Cooke Ranch’ where you will find tours of six rooms which will include info on various items found in the rooms, videos, etc. Explore at least two the rooms such as the Tack Room, the Bunk House and Cooks’ Room.

Write a two paragraph essay for each of the rooms you visited. The first paragraph should describe the general purpose of the room. the activities that would take place there and how it was related to life on a Texas Ranch. The second paragraph should include a description of at least five items found in the room and what their purposes were to the ranch.

2) Click on the link ‘Interactive History’ where you will find games. quizzes, etc about ranch life and old west cowboys. The best ones are Lead a Cattle Drive, Test your True Grit, and Do You Speak Cowboy? Complete at least two of the activities and answer the following questions about each activity:
a. What was the name, the purpose and basic method of playing this interactive activity?

b. How successful were you at competing and /or completing the task? Did you win or lose? What decisions worked or didn’t?

c. What did the activity teach you about life as a cowboy or on a Texas ranch?

d. What was your favorite part of the activity? Least favorite part?

3. Click on the link ‘1867 Places, People and Events’ where you will find articles/readings about a variety of topics and information about life in the old west and cowboy life. Write a paragraph describing/summarizing important information about four of the following:
Vaqueros

African American Cowboys

Comanches

Buffalo Soldiers

The Open Range

Frontier Wives

Enjoy your exploration of the Old West! Feel free to browse other links and out more about life on a Texas Ranch and the Old West.