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Activity
School Rack

Westward Expansion Project Choices

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What a great list of brief research projects for reviewing the era of westward expansion in the United States! Learners are directed to choose and complete three of the projects on the given list, which includes opportunities to design...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrated Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 5th
An ambitious and engaging lesson on the Westward Movement for your students to enjoy! Groups of learners rotate between learning tasks such as learning about the Chislom Trail, Lewis and Clark, and the Gold Rush. A WebQuest is also...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons Ho! Hard Times! Hard Choices!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
You have just hit the lesson plan jackpot! This isn't just a lesson, it's a ten-day unit covering westward expansion, pioneer life, and the Oregon Trail. Activities include baking, model building, role-play, newspaper writing, science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Movement: Expansion or Encroachment?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create a portfolio of pictures and research primary resources to investigate if westward expansion was justified. In this westward expansion lesson plan, 6th graders discuss the effect the expansion had on Native American...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. In this Westward movement activity, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Stamp Stories of Westward Expansion

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
What a fantastic project idea for discussing not only the history of America's expansion into the West, but for reviewing any major unit of history in your class. Pupils build stamp collections to visually represent themes of the unit,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Upper elementary learners read about jobs on a cattle drive and the lives of cowboy during U.S. Westward Expansion. They create a "Help Wanted" poster for one of the jobs. After reading primary source accounts of cowboys, they write...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion : Mapping

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders travel along exploring the expeditions of John F. Fremont. In this Westward expansion lesson, 5th graders gain understanding of the events that shaped the west through the use of maps. Students use mapping skills to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocky Train Trek

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students research about America's westward movement and the effect of railroads on indigenous peoples, U.S. society, the environment, and the economy. They plan, map, and document an imaginary train journey across North America in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

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

Exploring Pioneer America

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research pioneers who had a strong influence on westward expansion. In this westward expansion lesson, 4th graders write an essay about four pioneers and an interview script about one. Students work in pairs to present...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dangers of the West

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the American West. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, 8th graders examine primary sources to investigate the dangers travelling to and settling in the American West. Students design brochures that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patty Reed's Doll: The Story of the DonnerParty

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore westward movement through eyes of doll belonging to Patty Reed, member of Donner Party. They write journal entries from points of view of characters in book, Patty Reed's Doll, participate in Pack the Wagon game, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Footprints of Lewis and Clark: 19th Century Artists -- Depictions of Native Americans

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read excerpts of "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose. As a class, they view slides of artwork from the time period of westward expansion and Native Americans, write their reactions and share them with the class. To...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Report to Congress on Our Expedition

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research in small groups to locate information on the outcomes and observations made during the Lewis and Clark expedition. In this westerns expansion lesson, students role play their findings as though they were reporting to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: Famous People of the West

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the impact of Brigham Young and Jim Bridger on westward expansion. They conduct research, develop a class information chart, and create a cartoon strip depicting what happened when Jim Bridger and Brigham Young...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the components of the Westward Movement in the United States. Understanding the past and the linkages it has to the present is the intended goal of this seventeen day unit.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer Scramble

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

Study History through Journal Keeping

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Journal writing can be a fun way to bring history to life. Upper graders read a series of journals from the time of the westward expansion, specifically the pioneer journey along the Oregon Trail. They compose an ongoing journal from the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wild, Wild West

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research the history of the transcontinental railroad. They use advertising propaganda techniques to design and create a poster encouraging people to explore the West by rail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: Famous People of the West

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine two famous people, Brigham Young and Jim Bridger, who made an impact on the westward expansion, and create cartoon strip using the information.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"ART ZOO 'Blacks in the Westward Movement', 'What Can You Do with a Portrait', and 'Of Beetles, Worms, and Leaves of Grass'"

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study black history, examine portraits and portrait making and create their own portraits, and  investigate their natural environment. This humanities lesson provides a text that can be used to teach lessons in black history,...

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