Showing results by author "Jessica Rusick" in All Categories

In May 1607, English settlers stepped off their ship in North America. They were about to start the first permanent English settlement in North America. They endured many hardships and made many tough choices in the new land. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather suffer from intestinal problems after becoming infected with dysentery or have bleeding gums after getting scurvy? Would you want to work as a blacksmith or tend the tobacco fields?

Thousands of American settlers endured the long trip of more than 2,000 miles between Missouri and Oregon in the mid-1800s. They were determined to make a better life for themselves. They faced many hardships and made tough choices. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather run out of food supplies or spare wagon parts? Would you ford the river and get across faster but risk your wagon overturning? Or would you take apart your wagon and float it across but risk delaying your time-sensitive journey? It's your turn to pick this or that!

In September 1620, 102 brave travelers and their crew stepped upon a ship called the Mayflower in England. Most were members of a religious group now known as the Pilgrims. They were bound for North America to start a new life. They endured many hardships and made many tough choices. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather suffer from seasickness or from skin sores caused by scurvy? Would you rather have been a crew member navigating the ship in stormy seas or cramped into the living quarters just along for the tumultuous ride? It's your turn to pick this or that!

In 1804, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their team set out on an exciting yet challenging expedition into the American West. They faced many difficult choices along the way. Now, the choices are yours.

In mid-1860s, two railroad companies had a huge job in front of them: building the transcontinental railroad. The railroad would run from east to west across the United States. As the grueling work began, there were many choices to make. Now, the choices are yours.

By 1860, Americans had settled from coast to coast. How could mail get from east to west? The Pony Express! Brave Pony Express riders did whatever it took to get the mail delivered quickly. They faced many difficult choices along the way. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather encounter a grizzly bear or a mountain lion? Would you rather ride through driving snow or pouring rain? It's your turn to pick this or that!

In the early 1800s, thousands of pioneers made a long, perilous westward journey from Missouri to New Mexico. They paved the way for more settlers looking to start a new life in the West. They endured many hardships and made many tough choices. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather get bitten by a poisonous snake or suffer from cholera? Would you take the longer route across mountains with more available water? Or would you take the shorter route across the desert with less water? It's your turn to pick this or that!

After gold was discovered in California in 1848, thousands of people rushed there to strike it rich. They faced tough choices at every turn. Now the choices are yours. Would you rather use the slower method of panning for gold or use a more dangerous method of hydraulic mining? Would you rather run a store or a hotel in a California boomtown? It's your turn to pick this or that!

Some forest creatures are masters of disguise! They use camouflage and cover to outsmart predators or sneak up on prey. Some forest animals blend in with leaves, moss, and more. Others hide beneath rocks or in logs. Learn more about creatures that hide in the forest!

Some desert creatures are masters of disguise! They use camouflage and cover to outsmart predators or sneak up on prey. Some desert animals blend in with rocks, sand, and more. Others burrow beneath the ground or hide in shrubs. Learn more about creatures that hide in the desert!

Some creatures are masters of disguise! They use camouflage and cover to outsmart predators or sneak up on prey. In cold habitats, animals blend in with the snowy surroundings. They also hide beneath the snow in dens. Learn more about creatures that hide in the snow!

Some ocean creatures are masters of disguise! They use camouflage and cover to outsmart predators or sneak up on prey. Some ocean animals blend in with sand, pebbles, and more. Others hide in coral reefs or beneath the ocean floor. Learn more about creatures that hide in the ocean!