Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Trails

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. For 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trade and Travel on the Overland Trails

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students compare and contrast trade routes. In this trade route lesson, students explore the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe trail. Students compare and contrast the purposes for these trails.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trails to the West

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research American history of the 1850's. In this American history lesson, 8th graders write about how different American groups looked at the idea of Manifest Destiny. Students then draw the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Raton Pass and Glorieta Battlefield

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Raton Pass and Glorieta Battlefield on the Sante Fe Trail in New Mexico.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Westward Movement

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students, working in groups, research and write about one of the trails that were used during US Westward Movement. They create a travel brochure for their trail keeping in mind the era in which the travel took place.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Ho

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny instructional activity, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roads of the Past and Present

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders compare the paths taken by the pioneers with those taken today. They trace the development and emergence of culture in indigenous communities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Built Environment-An Integrating Theme

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students observe, record, and present knowledge of their local built environment while conducting a walking tour of their community. They develop written and photo journals, drawings, time lines, graphs, and charts to engage in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle of Glorieta Pass: A Shattered Dream

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This lesson can be used in American history, social studies, and geography courses in units on westward expansion and the Civil War.
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Landmark Calendar-An Enterprise for Your School

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students scrutinize the steps necessary to produce a school calendar featuring local architectural sites and landmarks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle. They present their findings to Brigham Young and the class with a short...