Be a River Pioneer!

To establish a context for an assessment or a study of pioneers and the American frontier in the 1800s, groups examine photos and record observations about clothing, housing, and travel.

Students discuss the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the reasons they may have chosen to follow certain rivers. They list the rivers that start from St. Louis and follow the route of Lewis and Clark. Students trace and label the rivers...

Students share what they know about the daily life of the pioneers who settled on the Great Plains. They describe what characteristics modern-day explorers might have in common with people of America's frontier era.

Students research Pacific Northwest Pioneers in order to create a bio-web poster about the author in which they illustrate and write facts about the pioneer. Students then create a book page about their pioneer to add to a class book of...

Students identify various regions of early Arkansas as these regions relate to African American colonies that settled in Arkansas after the Civil War.

In this train research report, students select one mechanical aspect of a train to write a report. Students fill in the outline with the subject, thesis statement, topic, and details. All research would need to be done on the Internet;...

Middle schoolers watch video about Bluff pioneers, and trace the pioneers' course on a map, labeling specifically difficult portions of their journey.

Students pretend they are on the Oregon Trail and keep a diary of their adventures. For this Oregon Trail lesson plan, students write about their decisions to move, crossing rivers, buying supplies, and more.

Students identify various regions of early Arkansas as these regions relate to African American colonies that settled in Arkansas after the Civil War.

Students 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.