Westward Expansion Lesson Plans

Fourth graders experience pioneer life on the Oregon trail. For this pioneer lesson, 4th graders research the reasons for moving west and what life was like on the trail. They create a map, complete an oral presentation, and write about their journey. 

Students read and view video about the pioneers moving west.  In this African American pioneer lesson, students become familiar with the problems faced by the pioneers and African-American pioneers. Students complete worksheets and compare and contrast the movement of each pioneer group. Students explore the role of women traveling west as well. Students create a poster.

Students face a challenge. In this survival lesson, students discover the hardships faced by the pioneers who moved west and see if they would survive a similar situation. They discuss essential items they need to survive and individually complete a survival challenge worksheet. This lesson includes a worksheet and an answer sheet.

Students explore occupations during the Oregon Trail era. In this westward expansion American history lesson, students define map vocabulary and use this information to identify geographical information relevant to the common trades of the Americans moving west. Students choose a trade and research its details including reasons the trade provided support needed to successfully move westward. Students participate in an Oregon Trail simulation.

Third graders work in small "family" groups. They participate in a group discussion about reasons people were moving west, and the finality of leaving home. They look at maps of the west and a pioneer travel guide. The families discuss their destination and how they will get there. Students make a prairie seasons chart, and write sentences describing the prairie. This lesson plan is actually a mini unit, and includes a total of three week long lessons.

Third graders study Westward Expansion of the US using texts, trade books, biographies, and Internet research to determine how land was used by the settlers. They compare the different routes that the settlers used to move west. They design a slideshow and a brochure highlighting the research.

Students participate in a role play activity in which they play an American pioneer moving west. During the role play, they select an occupation and a town to live in. In groups, they use a map to determine the best route to arrive to the new settlement and what mode of transportation they are going to use. To end the lesson, they draw a picture of what they believed what the settlements looked like.

Students write a diary. In this writing and creativity lesson, students pretend they are moving west and keep a diary about their adventures. Students study real-life scenarios about families who made the trip out west before writing their own story.

Students research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson plan, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart showing the difficulties, and write a friendly letter.  

Eighth graders travel the Oregon Trail. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, 8th graders determine why the pioneers moved west as they participate in a classroom activity that requires them to identify landmarks upon the route and deal with conditions the pioneers faced along the way.