Westward Expansion

Lesson 1
Materials- chart paper, blank notebook paper for students
Brainstorm- Imagine that when you get home from school today, your family tells you some exciting news. You will be packing up and moving to Mars, which is now hospitable to human life. Write and tell me-
a) What might be exciting about this?
b) What concerns you about this?

Brainstorm a t-chart on chart paper.

Discuss similarities to Westward travel- adventure and fears of pioneers.

Lesson 2
Materials- map showing expansion, Manifest Destiny notes (teacher only),  photo of Spirit of the Frontier painting

http://www.wps.k12.va.us/tchrstaf/plans/westhandout.pdf

Why did pioneers leave home and travel west?
(starting over, seeking riches,
most went as a family/group, former slaves, Chinese immigrants, Mexican
What was Manifest Destiny?

1) Show map of land acquisition of the US and discuss dates and expansion.

2) Read about Manifest Destiny and show painting- what do we observe? What does it mean?

Lesson 3
Finish up discussion of who moved West and why

Lesson 4
They Went West (Primary Source)
How Many Went West?
Believe It or Not
Push Pull Cards

*All from the History Comes Alive book

Lesson 5
Intro- watch http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/new-york/videos/building-the-erie-canal
Erie Canal
Visit the website http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/midlit10.soc.splerie/building-the-erie-canal/

Answer questions on the Microsoft Word created question paper.

Lesson 6
Impact of Westward Expansion on Native Americans


Indian Land Maps (History Comes Alive book)

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3knJOD3uNw   4 Rs
Video Trail of Tears Trail of Tears

https://prezi.com/_iurl0ujjrx2/the-impact-of-westward-expansion-on-native-americans/


Map of Oregon Trail

Historic Sites on the Oregon Trail

Sites Trail #2


Gold Rush

Westward Settlers

Transcontinental Railroad


Website for students citing sources
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/03/by-search-request-bibliography-tools.html?m=1