Curated OER
The Road to California - A Journey to Freedom
Students complete a Web quest about Biddy Mason's journey Westward to California as a slave and her ultimate rise to one of the wealthiest and generous woman of the Westward Movement. They present an exhibit of their research.
Curated OER
Pioneer America: Journey West
Fourth graders experience pioneer life on the Oregon trail. In this pioneer lesson plan, 4th graders research the reasons for moving west and what life was like on the trail. They create a map, complete an oral presentation, and write...
K12 Reader
Traveling to the Distant West
If you build it they can come. After reading a short article about the impact of western expansion, middle schoolers cite evidence from the article to explain how this expansion forced changes in transportation.
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: California
It's time to hear about some adventures in travel! The Transcontinental Railroad changed life and travel in the United States during the 1800s. Practicing online research skills, pupils discover the features they would like to visit on...
Read Theory
Analogies 1 (Level 6)
Get your middle schoolers up to scratch with analogies using this worksheet. Pupils complete 10 analogies by determining the associations between the words and using the provided bridge sentences.
Curated OER
A Trip Back in Time
Students investigate the pioneer experience in the 1800s. They view and discuss the images on the Missouri quarter, read a story about pioneer life, complete a worksheet, and create a booklet-form time capsule of pioneer items from the...
Curated OER
Pioneers Find Fun
Fourth graders investigate pioneer Studentss games. They research various games, play a pioneer game, and in small groups, create their own original pioneer game to teach to the class.
Curated OER
Charles R. Savage Lesson Plan Ideas
Students explore works by English photographer Charles R. Savage. In this visual arts lesson, students investigate photography by Savage as they discuss the use of perspective, space, color, and texture.
Curated OER
Heritage: Seeking Land or Gold
Students write a persuasive letter home defending their decision either to settle in Utah and farm the land, or to go on to California to seek gold. They analyze a problem, make a decision, and write a letter defending their choice.
Curated OER
Headin' West! The Life of a Pioneer
Students explore the life of a pioneer and the relationship between the concept of Manifest Destiny and pioneering. Students complete activities, maps, writing and reading to experience pioneer life. Handouts and worksheets are included...
Curated OER
Westward Expansion
Eighth graders explore the components of the Westward Movement in the United States. Understanding the past and the linkages it has to the present is the intended goal of this seventeen day unit.
Curated OER
4 and 5 Digit Dividends
In this dividend worksheet, students divide to solve 6 word problems. All problems have 4 or 5 digit dividends. Problems 1 and 2 have been started for students.
Curated OER
The Oregon Trail
In this Oregon Trail worksheet, students practice their map skills while they explore the states of Oregon, Missouri, Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Students us a map of the US to plot six points on the map that show the Oregon Trail.
Curated OER
The Gold Rush
Students identify the routes involved in the Gold Rush on a map. In this map skills instructional activity, students use a United States map to locate the routes used to travel to California during the Gold Rush. Students demonstrate how...
Curated OER
Manifest Destiny
For this Westward Expansion worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages which describe Manifest Destiny and respond to 33 short answer questions.
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered lesson plan on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional...
Curated OER
All Aboard- Central Pacific Railroad
Second graders explore the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. In this U.S. history lesson plan, 2nd graders discuss vocabulary and events that occurred in the 1860s pertaining to the construction of the Central Pacific...
National First Ladies' Library
Who Wants to be a Pioneer?
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...
Curated OER
The Good Earth Quiz
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 14 multiple choice questions about Pearl Buck's The Good Earth. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Applied Science - Built Environment (3) Pre Lab
Third graders discuss types of transportation. In this transportation lesson, 3rd graders discuss common ways people get around and the effect of electric energy on our society. They write a paragraph about different kinds of...
Curated OER
A Trail Across the Plains
Students discuss how pioneers reached Utah, and create a mural of the pioneer trek with captions explaining what is happening along the trail.
Curated OER
Through The Looking Glass
Learners examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
Curated OER
Heritage: What Would You Take?
Fifth graders explore their own definitions of valuable, and decide what they would choose to take with them if they could only take one item. They define the reasons their items are valuable to them.
Curated OER
Handcarts - A Unique Form of Transportation
Fourth graders research the use of handcarts as a form of transportation for mid-19th century Mormon pioneers. They write mathematical story problems about this unique form of transportation and incorporate their researched data.