Lesson Plan
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Wagon's West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students travel to the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students discuss the Oregon Trail and then play the computer game of the same title. Students take on the roles of those who travelled the trail.
Lesson Plan
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Lewis and Clark Expedition

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students examine the effect of the Lewis and Clark Expedition on Native American nations. In this Native American history instructional activity, students research Internet sources to find out how the expedition impacted Native Americans...
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion and the War with Mexico

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners evaluate primary sources to develop their own opinions about Westward Expansion. For this Manifest Destiny lesson, students examine and respond to questions about Gast's painting titled American Progress Learners research how...
Organizer
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The Growth of the United States

For Students 4th - 8th
In this westward expansion worksheet, students fill out a graphic organizer of predictions and short answers of how land was acquired in the United States. Students do this for 6 land territories.
Worksheet
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Fugitive Slave Act and Western Expansion

For Students 8th - 12th
In this U.S. history worksheet, students read articles about the Fugitive Slave Act and Western expansion. Students then respond to 14 short answer questions regarding the articles.
Worksheet
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Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 12th
For this Westward Expansion worksheet, students 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
Students 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
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.
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 instructional activity, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion...
Lesson Plan
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Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils identify the implications of Manifest Destiny. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, 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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Whats so Different Between Them

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students evaluate primary sources. In this Westward Expansion activity, students will write essays that compare and contrast the differences and similarities between pioneers and Native Americans. Students will engage in a wide variety...
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

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

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students examine sources regarding the Battle of Wounded Knee from the perspective of Lakota fighters and...
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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Lesson: The U.S. Westward Movement

For Teachers 4th - 10th
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.
Lesson Plan
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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 activity, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African...
Lesson Plan
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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
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Leaving Home for the West - Why?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
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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
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East Meets West: Americans on the Move

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars 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". Young scholars conduct further...
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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The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act

For Teachers 11th
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. 
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...
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion - Fur Trade

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners 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 instructional activity, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach...