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Wagons West
Students examine life on westward trails. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze textbook passages about life on the Oregon Trail and the motivations of the people who settled Oregon.
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Wagons West: Native Americans
Students examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion...
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Manifest Destiny
Pupils identify the implications of Manifest Destiny. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, students view a PowerPoint presentation on the topic and then respond to questions based on the details of the presentation.
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Whats so Different Between Them
Students evaluate primary sources. In this Westward Expansion activity, students will write essays that compare and contrast the differences and similarities between pioneers and Native Americans. Students will engage in a wide variety...
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past
Students investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Students use their findings to create scripts that link primary...
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Wounded Knee Massacre
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students examine sources regarding the Battle of Wounded Knee from the perspective of Lakota fighters and...
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Westward Ho
Students examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on their findings.
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Lesson: The U.S. Westward Movement
Students research the U.S. Westward movement. In this U.S. history lesson, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson, and a design activity for the lesson.
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Who is Who in the Old West?
Students consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. In this Westward Expansion activity, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African...
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The American West: Images of Its People
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. For this American West lesson, students examine photographs that reveal the cultural components of the West and then write narratives regarding the photographs.
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This Land is my Land-Westward Expansion During Reconstruction
Students analyze policies regarding Native American territories during Westward Expansion. In this Reconstruction lesson, students research primary and secondary sources pertaining to the transfer of Native American land. Students take...
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Leaving Home for the West - Why?
Students examine primary sources regarding American movement to the west. In this westward expansion lesson, students create broadside posters based on the Homestead Act primary sources they research.
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Lewis and Clark: Meeting the Indians of the Northwest
Eighth graders examine the relationships forged with Native Americans by Lewis and Clark. In this Westward Expansion lesson, 8th graders research digital and print sources to study details regarding the Native American tribes that Lewis...
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East Meets West: Americans on the Move
Young scholars examine the settlement of the Louisiana Territory. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "East Meets West: Americans on the Move". Young scholars conduct further...
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Guardians of the West
Eighth graders discover the role of American buffalo in Westward Expansion. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, 8th graders examine primary and secondary sources in order to create a cause and effect chart that features the treatment...
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Making a Brand for Ourselves the "Cowboy" Way
Pupils define cowboys and learn about their roles on rangelands. In this rangeland lesson, students define cowboys and cowgirls and complete a KWL chart. Pupils read Cattle Kids and Til the Cows Come Home. Students visit the Diamond...
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Cowboy Word Search
In this word puzzle worksheet, students locate and circle 20 cowboy-related words in a horse-shaped word search puzzle. A word bank is provided.
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Cowboy: Print and Color 2
In this word recognition learning exercise, students trace the word "cowboy," write the word independently, and color the picture of the cowboy.
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The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. In this US History lesson, 11th graders watch the epic struggle of the Nez Perce. Students evaluate how a variety of Americans viewed Nez Perce through a role play.
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Manifest Destiny Lesson Plan
Learners examine how Americans justified Westward Expansion. In this American history lesson, your historians will watch a Manifest Destiny Powerpoint presentation and discuss each slide then participate in a class...
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Westward Expansion - Fur Trade
Learners complete a unit of lessons to learn how products reach the market and study the history of the fur trade. In this history and trade instructional activity, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach...
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End of the Line: What Happened to the Blue Ridge Railroad?
Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. In this railroad history activity, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of...
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Webquest - Westward Ho!
Students investigate life on the trail West. In this Oregon Trail lesson, students collaborate to research the pioneer life and then role play a family's life on the trail. Students author an essay regarding their research finding and...
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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...