Interactive

The Settlement of the American West

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

What do Abraham Lincoln and the Transcontinental Railroad have in common? Using a set of primary source documents, including pictures, maps, and treaties, class members link together the common themes of expansion into the American West. The activity includes a step-by-step scaffolding approach to unpacking the main ideas of small sets of documents.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Use the document set to review key themes of a unit on the American West
  • Offer the activity to stimulate interest before starting a unit on the American West
Classroom Considerations
  • Activity requires that each learner have access to a computer and Internet
Pros
  • Scaffolded approach builds primary source skills
  • Images are stimulating and intriguing
Cons
  • None