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Maja's Long Way to Nebraska worksheet preview

Worksheet

Maja's Long Way to Nebraska

Read about a Swedish family's reasons for coming to the United States and use a timeline to follow their journey to Nebraska.

Grade 2Social StudiesInteractive · Printable

Aligned toHIS.2.3

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What’s included

  • Single worksheet
  • Auto-graded online
  • 1 C3 Framework standard
  • Printable answer key
  • 14 questions
  • Classroom-ready

Details

Format
Interactive · Printable
Grade
Grade 2
Subject
Social Studies
Question types
Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

  • Students explain why a Swedish family came to the United States.
  • Students use a timeline to describe the family's journey from Sweden to Nebraska.
  • Students identify preparations and challenges in an immigration journey.

How to use

Read the passage aloud together and study the timeline. Discuss the family's reasons and travel route before students answer and write.

Curriculum

C3 Framework standard covered

HIS.2.3

Explain why families came to the United States from other places and what their journeys were like.

Preview

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Name Date

Maja's Long Way to Nebraska

Follow one family's reasons and route on a timeline.

Read the story

Read about Maja's family. Use the passage and timeline to answer the questions.

A Letter from Nebraska

In 1881, Maja Svensson lived with her parents, Nils and Elin, in Sweden. Her uncle Lars had moved from Sweden to Nebraska in 1879. In a letter, Lars wrote that he could help Nils find farm work and help the family settle nearby. The Svenssons wanted work and wanted to live near Lars, so they decided to move to the United States.

Before leaving, the family sold some furniture and packed clothes, bread, and a small bowl. They rode in a wagon to a train station. Then they took a train to a port and boarded a steamship bound for New York. The sea was rough on some days, and the family shared a small space with other travelers.

In New York, the Svenssons took another train west. They watched their bags and tickets carefully as they traveled. In 1882, they reached Nebraska, where Lars met them. By 1883, Nils worked on a farm, and the family lived in a small house near Lars. Maja missed Sweden, but she wrote that the journey had brought her family a new start.

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1.
Which event happened first on the timeline?
  • A. The family reached Nebraska.
  • B. Nils began working on a farm.
  • C. Lars moved to Nebraska.
  • D. The family traveled west by train.
2.
Why did the Svenssons decide to leave Sweden?
  • A. They hoped for work and wanted to live near Lars.
  • B. They wanted to take a short trip across the sea.
  • C. They planned to open a train station in New York.
  • D. They wanted to meet travelers who spoke Swedish.
3.
What can you infer from Lars's letter?
  • A. The trip to Nebraska would be very short.
  • B. The family would stay in New York.
  • C. The family had no need to plan before leaving.
  • D. Lars could connect the family with work and a nearby home.
4.
Circle the two details that show the trip could be difficult.

The sea was rough on some days.The family wanted to live near Lars.Nils hoped to find farm work.The family shared a small space with other travelers.

5.
Which route matches the Svenssons' journey?
  • A. Train, wagon, steamship, then train
  • B. Wagon, train, steamship, then train
  • C. Steamship, wagon, train, then wagon
  • D. Wagon, steamship, train, then steamship

Think about the journey

Use the timeline and story to explain what happened before, during, and after the trip.

6.
Why did the family watch their bags and tickets carefully during the trip?
  • A. So they could continue traveling and keep belongings safe
  • B. So they could give the bags to Lars in Sweden
  • C. Because tickets made the sea less rough
  • D. Because families could not ride trains with bags
7.
What happened after 1879 but before the family reached Nebraska in 1882?
  • A. Lars wrote to the family, and they decided to go.
  • B. Lars met the family in Nebraska.
  • C. Nils began working on a Nebraska farm.
  • D. The family had already lived in its new house.
8.
Which detail best shows that Lars's earlier move influenced the Svenssons' choice?
  • A. The family packed bread and a small bowl.
  • B. Maja missed Sweden after arriving.
  • C. The family met other travelers on the ship.
  • D. Lars wrote about farm work and help settling nearby.
9.
What changed for the family after they reached Nebraska?
  • A. They returned to Sweden right away.
  • B. Nils had farm work, and the family lived near Lars.
  • C. They no longer needed to make any travel plans.
  • D. They stayed on the steamship instead of settling.
10.
Which question would be most useful for a family planning a journey like the Svenssons' journey?
  • A. Who will choose the color of the new house?
  • B. How will we travel from home to the port and then west?
  • C. Which part of the ocean has the deepest water?
  • D. What games will children play after they arrive?
11.
Circle the two details that show the Svenssons planned for a long journey.

They wanted to live near Lars.They sold furniture before leaving.They packed clothes, bread, and a small bowl.Maja missed Sweden after arriving.

12.
Why is the 1883 part of the timeline important?
  • A. It shows what family life was like after the journey.
  • B. It shows that the family was still crossing the ocean.
  • C. It shows the year before Lars left Sweden.
  • D. It shows when the family first heard from Lars.

Write about the family

Write complete thoughts. Use details from the passage and timeline.

13.
Why did the Svenssons come to the United States? Use two details to explain their reason, and tell how Lars helped them.
14.
Use the timeline and passage to describe the Svenssons' journey in order from Sweden to Nebraska. Include one challenge they faced.

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