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Surviving the Plains
In this American West activity, students solve 10 anagrams to find problems faced by the homesteaders. Students fill out a chart with these problems, descriptions, and solutions.
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Homesteaders Push and Pull
In this American West learning exercise, learners review the factors that made the homesteaders leave their homes in the East to live in the plains. Students sort the factors into push and pull factor categories.
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Whites' Opinions of Indians Crossword
In this crossword puzzle worksheet, students read the clues about the white people's opinions of the Indians during the expansion west. Students complete the puzzle with 11 terms.
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Native American and White Settler Lifestyle
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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Mountain Men Crossword
In this crossword puzzle worksheet, students read the clues related to the mountain men of the American West. Students complete the 10-question puzzle.
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Cattle Trails
In this cattle trails study guide activity, students read about the American West. Students read 4 sections of information.
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American West Crossword Puzzle
In this American West crossword puzzle worksheet, students use the 27 clues to identify the correct words and names that will solve the crossword puzzle.
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The Life of a Cowboy
In this "Life of a Cowboy" study guide worksheet, students read about the American West. Students match 6 vocabulary terms to their definitions.
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Native Americans: Origins
In this Native Americans learning exercise, students read about the origins of the Native Americans and the discovery of North America. Students also read about the arrival of the Europeans to the continent and the Plains Indians.
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Manifest Destiny Crossword
In this crossword puzzle learning exercise, students read the clues about the American West and the manifest destiny. Students complete the 9-word puzzle.
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The American West: Knowledge Test
In this American West worksheet, students answer a total of 25 questions about The American West. Questions are short answer and "lists."
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American West: Railroads
In these American West worksheets, learners cut out the cards related to the American West and the railroads. Students match the cards together.
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Memorable Utah Events
In this American West worksheet, 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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Donner Online
Fourth graders participate in a simulation of the Donner Party in order to learn more about this episode in history. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders take on a role which dictates their group job; each role was assigned to...
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Lonesome Linda
Students analyze the create of Loma Linda. In this Western expansion lesson, students look at the development of a resort in the desert and how a town is begun.
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Manifest Destiny
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.
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How the West was Won? Conflict and Change on the Western Frontier
Seventh graders assess the conflict and change that occurred in the westward expansion following the Civil War. They list specific reasons why different groups moved west and the interaction between the "white" European civilization and...
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Exploring the West Using Fiction
Young scholars explore post Civil War development of the American West. They investigate the conflict among various groups involved in the settlement of the West and select a novel by a western writer and complete questions from the...
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Keeping the Home Fires: The lives of Western women
Fourth graders explore the various trails that settlers took West from Missouri. They examine the reasons that people took these trails as well as the kind of people who made the journeys. They examine the Oregon, the Mormon, the Santa...
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Art and National Identity: Analyzing Painting and Literature from the Era of Manifest Destiny
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. ...
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What Does a Cowboy Do?
Students participate in a variety of activities as they study cowboys and the cowboy culture. They read stories and sing songs about the cowboys. They study the area of the United States cowboys are from and review the tools cowboys...
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Westward Expansion: Chief Joseph's Words Of Surrender
Students explore westward expansion in the United States as it relates to Native Americans and the novel Holes. Students read a passage from Holes and discuss how westward expansion affected the Native Americans. Students compare and...
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Westward Expansion: The American Indian Experience
Students complete a brief presentation documenting the life of an American Indian. In class, students discuss the pros and cons of placing American Indians on a reservation. After their discussion, students choose a issue in Native...
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Birth of the Cowboy
Students examine how the image of the cowboy changed at the turn of the century. They read about cowboys' shifting reputation at the turn of the century and connect popular perceptions of the cowboy to a trend in popular culture that...