Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Name is America

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars read My Name is America about the Donner Party journey and create a scrapbook of what they read. In this Donner Party lesson plan, students also map out the journal they read about.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frontier Forts

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study frontier forts. In this Kansas history instructional activity, 7th graders research the history and conditions of Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Fort Riley, Fort Larned, and Fort Hays. Students write letters...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The American West-Knowledge Test

For Students 4th - 5th
In this American West worksheet, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on worksheet.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 2nd
Students examine how the events that took place during the time of the Westward Expansion affected the pioneers and Native Americans through the seven lessons of this unit. Enhancements in transportation over time are also a part of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Community- In Sculpture Form

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use the works of William H. Johnson as the basis for a project. The objective is to use his works as a demonstration of communication to the community. The sculpture is supposed to be made out of clay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the events of the Civil War. Using the internet, they research one aspect of the war of interest to them. In groups, they create a hyperstudio stack which they present to their classmates showing the information they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through The Looking Glass

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About Writers

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore how authors write stories. In this careers lesson plan, students invite an author into the classroom and ask him/her questions about writing as a career.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore problem solving.  In this middle school mathematics lesson, students investigate the five-step approach to problem solving.  Students solve word problems by employing the five-step process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whale Watcher Game Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study the gray whale migration and compare their populations to the increasing ocean temperature.  In this whale watcher lesson plan students draw a food chain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pushing the Boundaries: The Pioneer Spirit

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders recognize how social reform occurred at the turn of the century. Through a debate, 11th graders determine advantages and drawbacks of traveling west using original sources and descriptions of the attitudes, beliefs, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Events in Utah History

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders choose a topic they are interested in related to the history of Utah. Using the internet, they research the topic making sure to cite where they gathered the information and take notes. To end the activity, they write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle. They present their findings to Brigham Young and the class with a short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wilderness Training

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students see that there are many different kinds of wilderness. They study equipment and supplies to see how they differ for different types of wilderness experiences. They discuss ways to allow access to wild places without damaging them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wilderness Training

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students explore how to prepare for a wilderness journey. In this wilderness survival lesson, students construct a compass from a magnet and a sewing needle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 6: Native Americans in the West

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars recall their knowledge of Native American people who lived in the West and reflect on how their perspectives differed from pioneers and argonauts of the 19th century.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Encounter of Former Foes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine a timeline on the internet showing the relationship between the American Government and the Nez Perce in the 19th Century. After looking at the timeline and included map, students answer questions.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Westward Expansion the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about traveling along the Oregon Trail during the Westward Expansion. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
Other

Oregon California Trails Association: Historic Trails Learning Center

For Students 9th - 10th
Information portal for the organization that oversees the preservation of the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Santa Fe Trail, the Applegate Trail, and the Mormon Trail.
Website
Other

The Oregon Trail: Fantastic Facts About the Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides quirky facts about the Oregon Trail.
Unit Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Go West: Imagining the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A 2,000-mile trek across a continent-with no idea what awaits you on the other side. Tell your students to put on their traveling shoes and prepare for the journey of their lives! In this lesson, students compare imagined travel...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: If You Were a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Lesson plans that introduce the Oregon Trail to students and guide them into an activity where they create a personal narrative describing their journey out west. Provides a link to an excellent site that details many aspects of the...
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: u.s. History: The Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
A glimpse at life on the Oregon Trail during 19th-century westward expansion. Written humorously with teen learners in mind, students can view original photographs and read excerpts from pioneer diaries for a sense of the arduous journey.

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