Pupils examine life on westward trails. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, students analyze textbook passages about life on the Oregon Trail and the motivations of the people who settled Oregon.

Students examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion activity, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion Wood....

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.

Students evaluate primary sources. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students will write essays that compare and contrast the differences and similarities between pioneers and Native Americans. Students will engage in a...

Middle schoolers investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Middle schoolers use their findings to create scripts that...

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Westward Expansion activity, students examine sources regarding the Battle of Wounded Knee from the perspective of Lakota fighters and...

Middle schoolers examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny lesson plan, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on...

Students research the U.S. Westward movement. In this U.S. history lesson, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson, and a design activity for the lesson.

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...

Middle schoolers 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...

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...

Students examine primary sources regarding American movement to the west. In this westward expansion lesson, students create broadside posters based on the Homestead Act primary sources they research.

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

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...

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

Pupils define cowboys and learn about their roles on rangelands. For this rangeland lesson, students define cowboys and cowgirls and complete a KWL chart. Pupils read Cattle Kids and Til the Cows Come Home. Students visit the...

In this word puzzle activity, students locate and circle 20 cowboy-related words in a horse-shaped word search puzzle. A word bank is provided.

In this word recognition worksheet, students trace the word "cowboy," write the word independently, and color the picture of the cowboy.

Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. In 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. 

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...

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....

Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. In this railroad history instructional activity, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the...

Students investigate life on the trail West. In this Oregon Trail lesson plan, 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...

Students explore prairie life. In this Oregon Trail instructional activity, students read literature regarding the move west and participate in cross-curricular activities. Students should take digital photographs of the participation in...