Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion and the War with Mexico

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students evaluate primary sources to develop their own opinions about Westward Expansion. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students examine and respond to questions about Gast's painting titled American Progress Students research how...
Worksheet
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Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Westward Expansion activity, learners read assigned textbook pages which describe  Manifest Destiny and respond to 33 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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The Settlers are Coming, but the Natives are Here

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a classroom simulation and then write paper about how the Native Americans and settlers could keep the...
Lesson Plan
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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.
Lesson Plan
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Wagons West: Native Americans

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion Wood. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the implications of Manifest Destiny. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation on the topic and then respond to questions based on the details of the presentation.
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson plan, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Learners use their findings to create scripts that link primary...
Lesson Plan
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Westward Ho

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Who is Who in the Old West?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. For this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African...
Lesson Plan
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Leaving Home for the West - Why?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners examine primary sources regarding American movement to the west. For this westward expansion lesson, students create broadside posters based on the Homestead Act primary sources they research.
Lesson Plan
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Guardians of the West

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discover the role of American buffalo in Westward Expansion. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, 8th graders examine primary and secondary sources in order to create a cause and effect chart that features the treatment...
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th
Learners examine how Americans justified Westward Expansion. In this American history lesson, your historians will watch a Manifest Destiny Powerpoint presentation and discuss each slide then participate in a class...
Interactive
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Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny (1)

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Interactive
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Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny (2)

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 10 multiple choice questions regarding Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Worksheet
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Manifest Destiny Crossword

For Students 5th - 6th
In this crossword puzzle learning exercise, students read the clues about the American West and the manifest destiny. Students complete the 9-word puzzle.
Worksheet
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Manifest Destiny

For Students 6th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to Manifest Destiny. A short answer question is included as well.
Lesson Plan
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Art and National Identity: Analyzing Painting and Literature from the Era of Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students begin the lesson by discussing the causes and effects of the movement west. Using primary sources, they develop their own definition for manifest destiny. In groups, they view examples of paintings and read poems on the topic. ...
Lesson Plan
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"Go West, Young Man!"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine reasons why people migrated west. They describe how the geography of the U.S. changed in the 19 th century and design a PowerPoint presentation to convey factors for westward expansion.
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: Manifest Destiny or Bust

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the westward movement between 1800 and 1861 in the United States. They write narratives from the standpoint of those cultures that were repressed during this period, such as Native Americans, slaves, or Mexicans. ...
Lesson Plan
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny, Louisiana Purchase, and Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss famous explorers. They discuss manifest destiny and watch a PowerPoint presentation. Students relate the explorers trips to a trip to Mars. They create a graphic organizer showing what they would bring on a trip to Mars....
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny and the Power of Perspective

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the concept of Manifest Destiny and the United States. They analyze the Mexican War from the perspective of the Mexicans and the Indians. They write an essay about these different perspectives.
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny and the Commercial Conquest of the United States

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the role of commerce in the United States to help fulfill Manifest Destiny. They write commercials that could have been used by the Mexicans or Americans during the Mexican War.
Lesson Plan
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The Trial of Standing Bear

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the story of Standing Bear and his people as they defied the U.S. Governemt and returned to their homes in Omaha. Their arrest was followed by a trial which the Ponca people won.