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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frontier Forts

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study frontier forts. In this Kansas history lesson, 7th graders research the history and conditions of Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Fort Riley, Fort Larned, and Fort Hays. Students write letters from the perspective of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Town Development

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars evaluate how the impact of building of towns affected slavery.  In this United States History lesson, students work in small groups to construct a map, then they participate in a role-playing activity.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Movement/the Oregon Trail Using Power Point

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research and examine the Westward Movement using a computer. they create their own word search from facts they discover in their research or while interacting with the Oregon Trail software. They create PowerPoint...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Influence of Geography on the Migration of Virginians

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study how geography influenced the westward migration of Virginians. They review the settlement patterns of early Virginians before discussing reasons why people move away from an area. Looking at maps, they determine how...
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Who Wants to be a Pioneer?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a story based on their research of the Oregon Trail. Using the Internet and traditional sources, they engage in research about pioneer's experiences on the Oregon Trail during westward expansion. Students write a story...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans and the Move West

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the phases of westward migration in the United States during the 19th century focusing on the incentives that led many African Americans to make the move.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation and African-American Migration

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore the means of transportation available in the 19th century and its role as both facilitator and enabler of the westward expansion. They create a project board illustrating their findings.
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Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

Going West

For Teachers K - 2nd
Now this sounds like a fun lesson! Youngsters learn about pioneer life and the Westward Movement. First, they listen to the Copland's "Appalachian Spring," and then they discuss the elements of music found in the piece. They get into...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Go West, Young Man!"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine reasons why people migrated west. They describe how the geography of the U.S. changed in the 19 th century and design a PowerPoint presentation to convey factors for westward expansion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Manifest Destiny or Bust

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the westward movement between 1800 and 1861 in the United States. They write narratives from the standpoint of those cultures that were repressed during this period, such as Native Americans, slaves, or Mexicans. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bible Lesson: Wagons West

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students debate whether manifest destiny is right or wrong.  In this manifest destiny instructional activity, students discuss the westward movement and the role of manifest destiny as they focus on the Native Americans.  Students view...
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Coloring Pictures of Children's Activities During the Westward Expansion

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In these social studies coloring page worksheets , students color pictures of children during the westward expansion taking part in their activities. They color children playing, making butter, fishing, and walking near a covered wagon.
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Transforming the West: Did the Reality Match the Expectations for Kansas Homesteaders?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
They expected good soil and hearty crops ... but they found buffalo chips and grasshopper plagues. Using an advertisement encouraging famers to go west, budding historians examine primary sources including letters, photographs, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Push or Pull?

For Teachers K - 1st
Utilizing the Nebraska State Quarter, pupils learn about the pioneers who had wagons that were pulled across Nebraska by oxen during the westward movement. Excellent worksheets are embedded in the plan that guide them through this fine...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Analyzing a Photograph of a Treaty Council

For Teachers 7th - 12th
A photo catches a moment in time that provides a glimpse into the past. An interesting resource focuses on historical analysis using an image from a treaty council with Native Americans. Budding historians complete an online worksheet...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Petition Against Annexation of Hawaii

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Stop westward expansion! The quick activity delves into the past to understand the petition against the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Scholars analyze the petition to understand why native Hawaiians were against the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping the Home Fires: The lives of Western women

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the various trails that settlers took West from Missouri. They examine the reasons that people took these trails as well as the kind of people who made the journeys. They examine the Oregon, the Mormon, the Santa...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Donner Online

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simulation of the Donner Party in order to learn more about this episode in history. In this social studies instructional activity, 4th graders take on a role which dictates their group job; each role was...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mormon Trail and Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify the American Indian tribes who lived in the lands that the Mormon Trail went through. They investigate and describe the impact of western expansion on the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Lit. 18: The Oregon Trail & Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders name the American Indian people by tribe who lived in the lands which the Oregon Trail traversed. They investigate and describe some impacts of western expansion upon the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Lit. 19: Old Spanish Trail & Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders name the American Indian people by tribe who lived in the lands which the Old Spanish Trail traversed. They investigate and describe some impacts of western expansion upon the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Values and Beliefs of Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the beliefs of Manifest Destiny and its role in the California Gold Rush. They analyze a painting to gather information about Manifest Destiny.

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