Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: The U.S. Westward Movement

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students research the U.S. Westward movement. For this U.S. history lesson, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson, and a design activity for the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

The American West: Images of Its People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. For this American West lesson, students examine photographs that reveal the cultural components of the West and then write narratives regarding the photographs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Land is my Land-Westward Expansion During Reconstruction

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze policies regarding Native American territories during Westward Expansion. In this Reconstruction lesson, students research primary and secondary sources pertaining to the transfer of Native American land. Students take...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark: Meeting the Indians of the Northwest

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the relationships forged with Native Americans by Lewis and Clark. In this Westward Expansion lesson, 8th graders research digital and print sources to study details regarding the Native American tribes that Lewis...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

East Meets West: Americans on the Move

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

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
Curated OER

Making a Brand for Ourselves the "Cowboy" Way

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students define cowboys and learn about their roles on rangelands. In this rangeland lesson, students define cowboys and cowgirls and complete a KWL chart. Students read Cattle Kids and Til the Cows Come Home. Students visit the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cowboy Word Search

For Students 1st - 5th
In this word puzzle worksheet, students locate and circle 20 cowboy-related words in a horse-shaped word search puzzle. A word bank is provided.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cowboy: Print and Color 2

For Students Pre-K - 1st
In this word recognition activity, students trace the word "cowboy," write the word independently, and color the picture of the cowboy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. For this US History lesson, 11th graders watch the epic struggle of the Nez Perce. Students evaluate how a variety of Americans viewed Nez Perce through a role play. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion - Fur Trade

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students complete a unit of lessons to learn how products reach the market and study the history of the fur trade. In this history and trade lesson, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach market faster....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

End of the Line: What Happened to the Blue Ridge Railroad?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. For this railroad history lesson, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Webquest - Westward Ho!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate life on the trail West. In this Oregon Trail lesson, students collaborate to research the pioneer life and then role play a family's life on the trail. Students author an essay regarding their research finding and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Party like its 1849

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore prairie life. For 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer Scramble

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars explore the concept of Manifest Destiny. In this Westward Movement lesson, students study why Americans emigrated west in the 1840s and 1850s. Young scholars create interactive timelines, write exploration reports, and...
Interactive
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going West: The Artist Who Painted the Way

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the artists and artwork of the Westward movement. For this Westward Movement lesson set, 5th graders examine the characteristics of the art of this era. They look at the lives of the artists and think about how the...
Organizer
Curated OER

Trails West Map

For Students 5th - 12th
In this United States historical map worksheet, students examine the trails that settlers of the Western United States took during the period of Western Expansion.
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.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Brigham Young Leads Mormons West

For Students 5th - 6th
In these American West worksheets, students read passages about Brigham Young leading the Mormons west. Students then answer 9 questions about the text.