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Worksheet
Curated OER

American West: Railroads

For Students 5th - 6th
In these American West worksheets, students cut out the cards related to the American West and the railroads. Students match the cards together.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Memorable Utah Events

For Students 6th
In this American West activity, 6th graders read 7 passages and study the pictures that relate to settling the West and particularly the history of Utah.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who is Who in the Old West?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African Americans,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

West Virginia: Reading Comprehension

For Students 4th - 6th
For this West Virginia reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 2-page selection regarding the state and then respond to 10 true or false questions
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Worksheet
Curated OER

"West Side Story"

For Students 5th - 6th
In this music history worksheet, students discover the musical "West Side Story" by first reading a summary of the plot. Students answer 5 questions about the story line. Students then read and analyze the lyrics to "America" and discuss...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

American West: Lawlessness and Violence

For Students 5th - 6th
In this American West worksheet, students read about the reasons for lawlessness and violence in the American West. Students learn about geographical factors, political factors, economic factors, social factors, values, and attitudes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wild, Wild West, or Was It?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, 5th graders examine the opportunities that the West offered American pioneers. Students watch a montage video and analyze primary documents regarding the topic.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Into the Wild: Settling the South Carolina Backcountry

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders select their own plot of land in the Backcountry to settle in the 1700s in SC.  Students first find a point for settlement and sketch out the best route from the Lowcountry to arrive at the point.  They then draw out a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dangers of the West

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the American West. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, 8th graders examine primary sources to investigate the dangers travelling to and settling in the American West. Students design brochures that...
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wheeling and The Big City Lesson 1

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders consider how immigration impacted the East. In this West Virginia history lesson, 8th graders research the effects of immigration on Wheeling, West Virginia. Students also gather information about immigration on a field...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explain the development of the American West following the Civil War. They also explore the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. They also participate in a simulation about the American West.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Antonia: K-W-H-L Strategy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Use the well-known KWHL chart as a tool for building up to a research project and oral presentation related to Willa Cather's My Antonia. Starting with a class brainstorm, pupils research and gradually narrow down topics relating to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

East Meets West: Americans on the Move

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the settlement of the Louisiana Territory. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "East Meets West: Americans on the Move". Students conduct further research pertaining to the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine life on westward trails. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze textbook passages about life on the Oregon Trail and the motivations of the people who settled Oregon.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students prepare to travel west. In this Westward Movement lesson, students participate in classroom activities that require them to prepare for a trip west as pioneers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover how manifest destiny and westward expansion are related. Using the Internet, they research the beginnings of the movement of manifest destiny and how it influenced people moving westward. They discuss the expectations...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Interesting Facts about the Historic Trails

For Students 6th - 8th
The Oregon trail is a very interesting part of American history. The class, having read or discussed the events leading to the westward expansion and settling of the Oregon Territory, can answer each of these fill-in-the-blank...
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Activity
Smarter Balanced

American West in the 1800s

For Teachers 8th - 12th
To establish a context for an assessment or a study of pioneers and the American frontier in the 1800s, groups examine photos and record observations about clothing, housing, and travel.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Native American and White Settler Lifestyle

For Students 5th - 6th
In this American West worksheet, students review the lifestyles for the Native Americans and the white settlers. Students determine why there would be conflict between the groups based on the lifestyles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration and Helvetia

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders travel back in time. In this West Virginia history lesson, 8th graders research the contributions of Swill immigrants to the state and the reasons they emigrated.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life and Times of the West River 1776-1896: A Study of Early Industry in Westville

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the role of the West River in Connecticut in providing water power to local industries. In groups, they determine and discuss what needs to be considered before building along a river. They also research the other...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Don't Fence Me In

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Ensure that your class has a well-rounded understanding of new inventions, in this case barbed wired. Class members, after researching the history and development of barbed wire, assess its impact on cattle and the development of the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The West: US History

For Students 8th - 12th
In this U.S. history worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages that tell the story of Westward Expansion and respond to 35 short answer questions.  

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