You have just hit the lesson plan jackpot! This isn't just a lesson plan, it's a ten-day unit covering westward expansion, pioneer life, and the Oregon Trail. Activities include baking, model building, role-play, newspaper writing,...

In this history learning exercise, students read a one page article about life on the Oregon trail and the fur traders and mountain men. Students then answer 4 essay questions.

Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders lesson plan, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later developed....

Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. In this west coast geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students define...

Students study maps to locate the states and capital on the US map. Students locate continents, major world physical features and historical monuments. Students locate the provinces and territories of Canada.

How did early American pioneers decide what to take with them on their journeys, and what was their traveling experience like? Here you'll find a collection of activities to help you explore Westward Expansion with your young learners.

Students organize acquired information and make inferences as to the kind of habitat and its probable location. They identify and replicate art forms characteristic of the Pacific Northwest coast involving the use of ovoids and "u forms".

Students, given certain background information, list hardships that Laura Ingalls Wilder and other people that lived during the same time period went through. They interview someone who grew up in a different era than them.

In this book report worksheet, students recommend a book to someone by completing 6 different statements about their selection. First, they describe the book's main subject and point. Then, students write one of the most interesting...

In this American West instructional activity, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on instructional activity.

Read about the settling of Oregon country and how westward expansion prompted Congress to make it a territory.

A brief look at the life of American explorer, Meriwether Lewis. Provides a historical map of the Oregon Territory, a portrait of Lewis, and a photograph from Little Belt Mountain.

Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.

This online lesson plan shows students through primary sources how the borders of the U.S. changed in just a few years. They are asked to analyze maps and use map skills. All maps and worksheets are included as well as additional resources.

This site provides a glimpse into the United States in the year 1846. James Polk was president and the Westward Expansion was in full force. The site has nice historical photographs.