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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons Ho! Hard Times! Hard Choices!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
You have just hit the lesson plan jackpot! This isn't just a lesson, it's a ten-day unit covering westward expansion, pioneer life, and the Oregon Trail. Activities include baking, model building, role-play, newspaper writing, science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westmoreland Trail

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Westward expansion of the U.S. They play the computer game, Oregon Trail III, read primary source documents, conduct Internet research, write diary entries from the pioneer viewpoint, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Selling of the West, or The Portrayal of Emigrant Travel on the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners compare and contrast the realistic and romantic art and literature about experiences on the Oregon Trail. Using this information, they compare their viewpoints and write messages on what they believe it was like on a trip down...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore the Manifest Destiny. They interpret quotations, study point of view in writing, research English words that derived from Mexico, and analyze reasons why settlers moved west. After writing journal entries in first-person...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diseases of the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Pupils identify diseases that plagued the pioneers and find preventative measures to avoid them.  In this Oregon Trail lesson, students brainstorm possible health problems and diseases for pioneers. They then research a particular...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagon's West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students travel to the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, students discuss the Oregon Trail and then play the computer game of the same title. Students take on the roles of those who travelled the trail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Party like its 1849

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore prairie life. In this Oregon Trail lesson, students read literature regarding the move west and participate in cross-curricular activities. Students should take digital photographs of the participation in activities and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving West

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students research the Westward Movement and struggles encountered by the pioneers as they moved from Nebraska, Westward along the Oregon Trail. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students read an Oregon Trail poem and visit 5 different...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patty Reed's Doll: The Story of the DonnerParty

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore westward movement through eyes of doll belonging to Patty Reed, member of Donner Party. They write journal entries from points of view of characters in book, Patty Reed's Doll, participate in Pack the Wagon game, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneering Children on the Move

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students inquire about life for pioneer children. In this pioneer period lesson, students analyze photographs of children, make information foldables, and create a covered wagon that was typical of the ones of the past. Students will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whale Watcher Game Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study the gray whale migration and compare their populations to the increasing ocean temperature.  In this whale watcher lesson students draw a food chain.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Third Grade Social Studies- Quiz

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this social studies worksheet, students complete a 25 question multiple choice quiz about early American colonial life and the Cherokee and other Native American tribes.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Add and Subtract within 100- Matching Worksheet

For Students 1st - 3rd
There are seven word problems here which test your class's basic addition and subtraction skills. Answers are listed on the right, but they must find the correct one and record the corresponding letter next to the problem. Consider doing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing With Dolch

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students increase their skills in word attack, fluency, and spelling of words and research and find information on topics from the Internet. They then use the Quick Cam with the computer and will increase cooperative skills in small...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through The Looking Glass

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
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Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: The Voter Suppression Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Great learning "game" to help people understand the difficulties many people face when they want to vote in the United States. Based on the infamous Oregon Trail video game, see if your selected person...
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Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Our America: Western Expansion

For Students 3rd - 8th
Reviews of children's literature, student activities, and interactive games from Scholastic that enrich a student's understanding and appreciation of western expansion before the Civil War.