Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students use documents from California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900, in American Memory to create a script depicting the motivations, expectations, fears, and realizations of immigrants who settled California between...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Settling the West: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
During this instructional activity, learners will have the opportunity to experience the westward expansion through literature and the Internet. By creating a brochure and a slideshow presentation, students will become aware of the...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories

For Students 9th - 10th
This site highlights the westward expansion of settlers in North America and the effects this expansion had on Native Americans between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson: The West

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explains Jefferson's interest in westward expansion while showing and describing many original documents.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Homesteading: Dreams and Realities

For Students 11th - 12th
After reading this section from a chapter on "Westward Expansion", students will be able to identify the challenges that farmers faced as they settled west of the Mississippi River and describe the unique experiences of women who...
Lesson Plan
New York Public Library

Western Migration: The Land Promised Lesson Plan: African American Homesteaders

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Part of an online exhibit on the westward migration of African-Americans, this lesson plan looks at those with agricultural backgrounds who moved west following the Civil War and availed themselves of the opportunity to homestead. Middle...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Impact of Expansion on Chinese Immigrants and Hispanic Citizens

For Students 11th - 12th
As white populations moved westward in the 19th century, Chinese immigrants and Hispanic Americans faced racism and discrimination and were unable to compete on an equal basis for land. Eventually, both groups settled into urban areas...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform

For Students 3rd - 8th
Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic History Mystery: Westward Migration: The Santa Fe Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students try to guess the mystery subject Carlotta Facts, the History Mystery Museum's professor, is studying. They read the clues, do some online and offline research, and then attempt to identify the game's mystery place, The Santa Fe...
Lesson Plan
Intel Corporation

Intel: Music of the Western Expansion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
What was life like for a western pioneer? Students take a journey through westward expansion using music to understand the experience of the pioneers. As they listen to lyrics and analyze the different types of music that was being sung...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Westward

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Urban Growth and Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart covers the rise in population in American cities in the late 1800's and westward expansion.
Lesson Plan
University of Maryland

Howard County History Labs: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Lesson plan assesses historical thinking skills by providing two primary sources on Thomas Jefferson's views on the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase.
Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Charters of Freedom: Westward Expansion: Louisiana Purchase

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source material and informational text on the Louisiana Purchase.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: History for Kids: Glossary and Terms of the Westward Expansion

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the Glossary and Terms of the Westward Expansion. Definitions for Old West terms like frontier, pioneer, and homestead are found on this site.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: History: Timeline of Westward Expansion for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn the timeline of Westward Expansion of the United States on this site. Follow the timeline of how pioneers and settlers moved west of the Mississippi all the way to California.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Print Out for Kids: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Print out a crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US. Learn about history and have fun at the same time.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Game for Kids: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive and fun crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US.
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
Article
Other

Iowa Culture: American Indians and Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the factors, forces or reasons people moved from one geographic area to another in early America.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Westward Expansion: Economic Development

For Students 9th - 10th
In the late nineteenth century, the West developed into a modern agricultural machine- at the expense of farmers.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1790 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive map explores the territorial and population changes in the United States between 1790 and 1850. It also covers the beginning of the transportation revolution and the Native American land cessions and forced removals.
Website
The History Cat

The History Cat: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can learn about the Oregon Trail, Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and life as a pioneer through text, images, video, and quotes.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1860 1890

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive map, explore several ways in which the United States experienced substantial growth between the years 1860-1890.

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