Curated OER
Integrated Lesson Plan
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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Wagons Ho! Hard Times! Hard Choices!
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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Westward Movement: Expansion or Encroachment?
Sixth graders create a portfolio of pictures and research primary resources to investigate if westward expansion was justified. For this westward expansion lesson plan, 6th graders discuss the effect the expansion had on Native American...
Smithsonian Institution
Stamp Stories of Westward Expansion
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: The U.S. Westward Movement
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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Westward Expansion : Mapping
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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Dangers of the West
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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Patty Reed's Doll: The Story of the DonnerParty
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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Report to Congress on Our Expedition
Young scholars 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...
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The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
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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Town Development
Students evaluate how the impact of building of towns affected slavery. In this United States History lesson plan, students work in small groups to construct a map, then they participate in a role-playing activity.
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Pioneer Scramble
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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Study History through Journal Keeping
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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Westward Expansion
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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Let's Party like its 1849
Students explore prairie life. In this Oregon Trail lesson plan, students read literature regarding the move west and participate in cross-curricular activities. Students should take digital photographs of the participation in activities...
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The Wild, Wild West
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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Heritage: Famous People of the West
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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"ART ZOO 'Blacks in the Westward Movement', 'What Can You Do with a Portrait', and 'Of Beetles, Worms, and Leaves of Grass'"
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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Donner Online
Fourth graders participate in a simulation of the Donner Party in order to learn more about this episode in history. For 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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Moving West With Pioneers
Fifth graders read a book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder to examine the hardships that were endured by pioneers traveling during the Westward Expansion of the US. They predict, summarize and participate in literature circles. They visit...
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Discovering the Oregon Trail
Students explore U.S. history by researching the Oregon Trail. In this American exploration lesson, students read the story On the Shore of the River and define the exact path early settlers took to find the state of Oregon. Students...
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Stereotypes and Tonto
Students identify stereotypes, especially those applied to American Indians. In this teaching tolerance lesson, students read an essay entitled " I Hated Tonto (Still Do)" and discuss the negative impact that stereotypes may have on a...
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Making a Pinhole Camera
Students participate in a number of activities in order to study the history of photography and to examine the workings of a pinhole camera.