Utah History Program
2013 - 4th Grade
Utah History Program
SONG / DIRECTIONS / LINESScreen Down front lights on
Lights down / Betsy Ross, get out your flag and sew on another star. Hallelujah! The 45th state is what we are! / 1
Claire B.
Utah, This is the Place / Slide Show
Spot lights on
The earliest people we know of who lived here were the Paleo-Indian. Paleo means ancient, or very old. Archeologists tell us that they were here at least 12,000 years ago. / 2
Emely &
Astyn
Next came the Fremont and Anasazi people. We know about them by the remains of their civilizations. Cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, pictographs, and pottery tell us about their culture. / 3
Jack
When the pioneers arrived in Utah in 1847 there were five main tribes of Indians living here. They were the Utes, Paiutes, Goshutes, Shoshones, and Navajos. Each tribe had a different language and culture. Some lived in tepees and wicki-ups, others followed herds of animals and moved from place to place. / 4
Abby
Utah Indians
The first white people to explore Utah were a group of Spanish explorers who were trying to find a short cut between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Monterey, California. They were led by two Catholic priests, Father Escalante and Father Dominguez. They left Santa Fe in July of 1776 and during their expedition explored parts of Utah. / 5
Trevi
They came through Spanish Fork Canyon and camped for three days with the Ute Indians by Utah Lake, which was then called Lake Timpanogos / 6
Skye
In October, an early snowstorm caught their expedition and they decided to return to Santa Fe. Although they never reached California, they made maps of their travels through Utah which were a valuable resource to others who later explored this region. / 7
Joseph C.
First White Men in Utah
The next group of people to explore Utah was the fur traders and trappers, known as the “Mountain Men.” The life of the mountain men was exciting, but also difficult. / 8
Stephanie
The Mountain Men were in the west to collect beaver skins which were in demand at the time to make fancy hats. They dug holes and hid the pelts in the ground. Such a hole was called a “Cache”. / 9
Talon
Once a year the men brought their furs from the caches to a rendezvous. The rendezvous was like a big fair. The mountain men sold and traded the furs they had trapped during the year. People ate, drank, told stories, had horse races, shooting matches, and dances. / 10
Alexa
Dance #1
Although many of these men couldn’t read or write very well, they were good at telling stories about the vast lands surrounding the Great Salt Lake. As these stories circulated back to settlements in the East, others became interested and were motivated to follow the Mountain Men’s trails westward. Among the trappers who came to Utah were Jim Bridger, Jedediah Smith, Peter Skene Ogden, and Etienne Provost. / 11
Rachael H.
Trapper Song
By 1846, at least six wagons had made trails through Utah and yet none of these early travelers wanted to stop and settle in this barren desert covered with sagebrush. They had heard that the fertile valleys of California were only another 500 miles away. / 12
Alejandra
However, this was just the kind of country the Mormons were looking for – a place no one else wanted. A place away from others where they could worship as they please without fear of persecution. / 13
Kailee
Led by Brigham Young, a group of 143 men, 3 women, 2 children, 72 wagons, 93 horses, 52 mules, 68 oxen, 19 cows, 17 dogs, and a few chickens arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. / 14
Logan
On that date Brigham Young saw a wide green valley. Beyond was the sparkling blue of the Great Salt Lake, surrounded by mountains. Brigham Young said, “This is the Place.” / 15
Megan D
The next year began the great exodus of Mormons from the East. The journey to Utah from the East was very difficult and the pioneers faced many trials along the way. The trip took almost four months to complete. / 16
Haley Bredsgard
When the wagon trains stopped for the night, the people camped with the wagons in a circle. Guards kept watch all night, each man taking his turn. / 17
Ethan
Although there was a lot of work to do, the pioneers often took time before bedtime to relax. People told stories, played fiddles, banjos and other musical instruments. They also whooped it up with some dancing. / 18
Ryan
Dance #2
Before the railroad came to Utah, more than 80,000 pioneers had made the journey by wagon or handcart. These courageous men and women blazed the trail for others across a desolate frontier. / 19
Gabe
Utah Pioneers / Slide Show
It was very hard for the families living here. There were no stores, very little food, and the winters were long and cold. They had to plant, harvest and hunt all of their food. In spite of their hardships, the pioneers were a happy group of people and whenever they could they would dance. / 20
Grace
Dance #3
In 1850 rich ore was found in Bingham Canyon and it became Utah’s first mining district. The discovery of silver, gold and lead soon brought prospector to the mining camps of Frisco, Alta, and Park City / 21
Haley C.
The work of a miner was hard. They went into the cold, damp mines before the sun came up and came out of the mines after it was dark. The miners and their families looked forward to the one day of the week that they could relax and refresh in one of the many “social halls” scattered around the mining camps. / 22
Lily
On stage / I’m so excited to go to the social hall tonight. I hear they have brought in some fancy dancers for the new show tonight! / 23
Lindsey
I can’t wait to taste the new flavor of ice cream. Let’s go! / 24
Brigham
Curtain open-miners enter from front. Girls come from side to meet them
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I have a surprise for you. It is my pleasure to present to you these beautiful Can Can girls! / 25
Preston
Ta Ra Ra Boom De AAA / Dance – TaRaRaBoomDe AAAA
In the 1860’s BIG changes happened. The invention of the telegraph, steam engine, and the railroad brought many changes.In 1862 the United States Congress voted to build a railroad that would go across the whole country. It would be called the Transcontinental Railroad. / 26
Cooper
Two companies were hired to build the railroad, The Union Pacific from the East and The Central from the West. Because each company was paid for every mile of track they laid, it became a race to see which one could lay the most.The Central Pacific had the hardest job since they had to build lots of bridges and blast lots of mountain terrain. / 27
Kelsey & Kaimbry
It was on the tenth of May in 1869 that the two companies finally met at Promontory Point, Utah. Many people flocked around for the great occasion. / 28
Raymond
The last tie was in place. The Golden Spike was driven as the two engines stood facing each other. It was a great day to celebrate the wedding of the rails! / 29
Kenya
Iron Wheels a Rollin / Trains moving together, workers driving spikes, Fancy man looking at watch
The railroad brought many changes to the territory of Utah and marked the end of the “Pioneer Period.” Because the people were industrious, Utah soon became the agricultural and manufacturing center of the West. The region was called Deseret which means “honeybee” and stands for hard work and industry. / 30
Joe
In 1850 The United States organized the region as a territory and named it Utah in honor of the Ute Indians living here. Later Utah was admitted to the Union as the 45th state on January 4, 1896. What a celebration!! / 31
Luke
Dance #4
Utah has an area of 84,990 square miles and is divided into 29 counties. Some of these counties were given Indian names and some were named after minerals, trees, lakes, rivers, and animals. Of these 29 counties in Utah we are able to name each one. / 32
Ashliann
The 29 Counties of Utah / Students hold up county signs.
Millions of tourists visit Utah each year because of the beautiful mountains, stunning deserts, and breathtaking plateaus. People are inspired by the majesty of our National Parks and come to bike, hike, boat, and play all over the state. / 33
Marden
Utah is rich in natural resources. However, its greatest resource is its people who are industrious and well educated. Utah is the place for me! I mean, Utah is the place for… / 34
Claire
US!!!
There’s No Place Like Utah
Parts
9 can can dancers
9 social hall spectators
10 Railroad workers
1 Fancy railroad exec.
Father Escalante & Father Dominguez
29 Counties