Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Westmoreland Trail
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Westward expansion of the U.S. They play the computer game, Oregon Trail III, read primary source documents, conduct Internet research, write diary entries from the pioneer viewpoint, and...
Curated OER
Selling of the West, or The Portrayal of Emigrant Travel on the Oregon Trail
Young scholars compare and contrast the realistic and romantic art and literature about experiences on the Oregon Trail. Using this information, they compare their viewpoints and write messages on what they believe it was like on a trip...
Curated OER
Manifest Destiny
Students explore the Manifest Destiny. They interpret quotations, study point of view in writing, research English words that derived from Mexico, and analyze reasons why settlers moved west. After writing journal entries in first-person...
Curated OER
Diseases of the Oregon Trail
Learners identify diseases that plagued the pioneers and find preventative measures to avoid them. For this Oregon Trail lesson, students brainstorm possible health problems and diseases for pioneers. They then research a particular...
Curated OER
Wagon's West
Students travel to the American West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students discuss the Oregon Trail and then play the computer game of the same title. Students take on the roles of those who travelled the trail.
Curated OER
Let's Party like its 1849
Students explore prairie life. In this Oregon Trail lesson, students read literature regarding the move west and participate in cross-curricular activities. Students should take digital photographs of the participation in activities and...
Curated OER
Moving West
Students research the Westward Movement and struggles encountered by the pioneers as they moved from Nebraska, Westward along the Oregon Trail. In this Westward Expansion activity, students read an Oregon Trail poem and visit 5 different...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Pioneering Children on the Move
Students inquire about life for pioneer children. In this pioneer period lesson, students analyze photographs of children, make information foldables, and create a covered wagon that was typical of the ones of the past. Students will...
Curated OER
Whale Watcher Game Lesson
Students study the gray whale migration and compare their populations to the increasing ocean temperature. In this whale watcher lesson students draw a food chain.
Curated OER
Third Grade Social Studies- Quiz
In this social studies worksheet, students complete a 25 question multiple choice quiz about early American colonial life and the Cherokee and other Native American tribes.
Curated OER
Add and Subtract within 100- Matching Worksheet
There are seven word problems here which test your class's basic addition and subtraction skills. Answers are listed on the right, but they must find the correct one and record the corresponding letter next to the problem. Consider doing...
Curated OER
Writing With Dolch
Students increase their skills in word attack, fluency, and spelling of words and research and find information on topics from the Internet. They then use the Quick Cam with the computer and will increase cooperative skills in small...
Curated OER
Through The Looking Glass
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...
Curated OER
Learning About Writers
Students explore how authors write stories. In this careers lesson, students invite an author into the classroom and ask him/her questions about writing as a career.
New York Times
New York Times: The Voter Suppression Trail
[Free Registration/Login Required] Great learning "game" to help people understand the difficulties many people face when they want to vote in the United States. Based on the infamous Oregon Trail video game, see if your selected person...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Our America: Western Expansion
Reviews of children's literature, student activities, and interactive games from Scholastic that enrich a student's understanding and appreciation of western expansion before the Civil War.