Pioneering on the Plains Dyslexia Series

About this curriculum

The Homestead Act of 1862 opened the land of the American Midwest to anyone willing to work for it, and this series tells the stories of two of the pioneers who battled Mother Nature to make a living in those vast, wind-swept prairies. A Special Series of Books for Children Who Struggle to Read When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law in 1862, people all over the world—not just Americans—jumped at the chance to become landowners in the vast Midwest of the United States. The purpose of the act was twofold: to encourage western expansion across the country, and to give people who might not otherwise have one a chance to better themselves as property owners. It was an incredible opportunity, especially for former slaves, women, and immigrants who wanted to build a new life for themselves in America. That 270 million acres were settled as a result of the Homestead Act—a full 10% of the country—belies the facts of how hard it was to homestead in the Great Plains. It was backbreaking work, and it was not for everyone. People in the eastern states…