Curated OER
Pioneer America: Journey West
Fourth graders experience pioneer life on the Oregon trail. In this pioneer lesson, 4th graders research the reasons for moving west and what life was like on the trail. They create a map, complete an oral presentation, and write about...
Curated OER
Westward Ho: The Difficulties of Emigrants Moving West
Learners research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart showing...
Curated OER
Moving West
In this moving west worksheet, students complete a journal entry about why they would want to move west as a U.S. citizen during the 1800's. Students write it in the point of view of someone in the 1800's.
Curated OER
Oregon Trail Diary
Students write a diary. In this writing and creativity instructional activity, students pretend they are moving west and keep a diary about their adventures. Students study real-life scenarios about families who made the trip out west...
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Moving West
The National Postal Museum provides an intimate look at how America's postal service expanded to meet the needs of westward-moving settlers during the nineteenth century. Content includes a selection of letters written at the time, a...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories
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.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Whose Land Is This? Webisode 8
From Joy Hakim's marvelous set of books, A History of US, this webisode offers narrative, pictures, and teaching guides for the settling of the West after the Civil War.
Other
Oregon California Trails Association: Historic Trails Learning Center
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.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Westward Expansion
This article offers a detailed history of early 19th century westward migration and the social diversity of the pioneers moving west.
San Diego State University
Sdsu College of Education: Westward Movement
A group of organized lessons provides ideas for teachers when planning a unit on westward expansion in the US. Some activities include planning what to pack in your wagon, learning what obstacles were faced, mapping, and more.
Ibis Communications
Eye Witness to History; Crossing the Plains, 1865
Article offers the diaries of Sarah Raymond as she treks across the Great Plains. Describes the many hardships encountered on this long journey.
Other
Colorado Historical Society: Kit Carson: A Hero in Fact and Fiction [Pdf]
A short biography of the legend of the West, Kit Carson. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Journeys West
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which students explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
Other
Conner Prairie: Western Immigration
This Conner Prairie Museum site explores the western immigration throughout the Midwest during the 1800s. Content details the incentives for migration, when it happened, the primary routes followed, and more.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: California Before Gold Discovery
From the "Century" magazine, an article from 1890 by James Bidwell who came to California in 1841.