Lessons about the West
Travel back in time to the western frontier of the United States with us to learn about the brave men and women who traveled the hard trails to make the west their new home! Why would they move far from their families and homes, push through the unknown dangers, risk their lives, and work so hard to make a new home? Let's find out as we study the west!
Thank you to one of my favorite graphic artists, Mr. Phillip Martin for his clip art. Check out his site for many more fantastic educational clip art pieces.
This lens is dedicated to my friend Penelope for her inspiration and encouragement! :D
**Special Announcement!!**
Please forgive me for being so bold, I've never ask for something like this before, but this is really important to me. I recently found out that one of my unit studies, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, has been nominated for the "2009 Giant Squid Awards" at Squidoo.com!!! This was a giant shock to me and I am very humbled that anyone would want to nominate a unit of mine. If you have used or enjoyed any of my units, would you please consider voting for this unit? Information on how to vote is on the above link. Thank you so much!-
Lewis & Clark Expedition
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The Lewis & Clark Expedition ~ how exciting! Doesn't it send tickles down your spine? A journey on the way across a broad new land! Who knows what they will see, who they will meet, what dangers await, which obstacles they may come across? The...
Western Lapbooks
- Westward Ho! Lapbook Unit
- This is a fantastic lapbook from "Dynamic 2 Moms". It contains information and mini books for a lapbook about:
Time Period 1803 - 1890, Timeline, Pony Express, Flora & Fauna of the West, Fact Cards, Buffalo Bill, Daniel Boone, James Cooper Fenimore, Artists, '49's, Battle of the Alamo, Manifest Destiny, Vocabulary, Oregon Trail Supplies & Trail Book, Banners, Copywork, Pecos Bill Writing Prompt, Transportation, Transcontinental Railroad, Game & Game Cards, Pictures, and other wonderful ideas! Their materials are beautiful and exciting ~ we can't wait to dig into them! - Where the Buffaloes Begin
- From Homeschool Share - "Summary - An Indian Legend of the Buffalo rising from a sacred lake is retold by the oldest man in the tribe. A Plains Indian boy shows bravery by leading the buffalo away from the enemy tribe. The story has been passed on through the Blackfeet Indians as a legend."
Thank you Lisa, Celia, and Ami! This unit includes activities for: Social Studies (geography, Native culture - housing, food, transportation, clothing, lifestyle, Lewis & Clark), Bible & Character study, Language Arts (legends, writing, vocabulary, copywork, literary elements), Art (realism, artists, Caldecott Award), Math (calendar, story problems, shapes, fractions), Science (plants, sound, animal tracks, five senses, endangered animals), Several hands on activities, Resource list of books and site links. Awesome unit! :D - Westward Ho!
- Unit Connections - units on homeschool share that work well with a western study.
- Ten Mile Day and the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
- A literature lapbook unit from Homeschool Share. It contains all the lesson plans, lapbook pieces, and a board game!
Western United States Photos
Pictures to decorate a lapbook, notebook, or poster in your studies.
God's Grace
Yosemite in the Morn...
Amtrak Train
Bookstore Recital tr...
Irrigation Pipe
Hands-On Learning!
Learn about the 1st Americans
Start researching the West
- Western Expansion
- Resource list of lessons, materials, and educational sites about the western frontier for teachers and students from Mr Donn.
- American West Resources
- A great place to get an overview of the American West with materials for reinforcing lesson concepts ~ Timeline of Main Events, Geographical areas of North America, Manifest Destiny, Native Relationships, Gold Rush, Mountain Men, and the Cattle Industry.
Contains short but direct articles to read about the American West; printable information sheets, worksheets, and puzzles; online word searches, crossword puzzles, and quizzes. - Westward Ho!
- Designed by a 5th grade class, this site contains an Online Timeline of the West, a map of the Louisiana Purchase land, the Lewis & Clark Expedition and Western Exploration, the War of 1812, Battlefield Sites, Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Andrew Jackson, Sacagawea, Native American, the Mexican War, online activities and puzzles, links, and sources. The children and teacher created a fun, colorful, easy to understand unit. :)
- Western Expansion
- Western Webquest
- *Westward Ho!
- Learn many things about the west ~ people, tall tales, law enforcement, transportation, quiz, and resources.
- American Expansion Online Game
- Jeopardy style fun!
- Our America ~ Western Expansion
- Another awesome adventure from Scholastic
Fun Covered Wagon Projects
Find Out More About the West
- Interactive Resources for Teachers
- Scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on "Western Expansion" .
Kids will enjoy exploring through these sections in this interactive unit:
Exploration - 11 pages of info plus a "More Info" Timeline window to open at the bottom.
Games - 4 match the correct answer type of quiz-games.
Tools - printable activity list and certificate printer.
Extensions - investigation research, map project, or "Add Your Own" activities like making a list of facts, researching a topic, or interviewing someone about a topic. - Western Expansion & Reform (1829 - 1859)
- Several history articles, pictures, sound and video clips from America's Library.
- Westward Ho!
- Article from Weekly Reader
- United States Geography Game
- Click and drag the state names to the proper states - beat your own score and time.
- From Sea to Shining Sea: Exploring Expansion
- ยท From Sea to Shining Sea: Exploring Expansion http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01547/index.htm Webquest
- Western Expansion Projects
- PDF files of project ideas for younger and older children, and a Western Expansion Test
Reading for Kids!
Take a Ride on the Pony Express
- Pony Express
- This is a very kid friendly website! ~ The Basics, Links to Explore, Go on one of the Pony Express Webquests. Lesson Vocabulary and related links.
- The Pony Express
- A mini unit study by Easy Fun School ~ Read an article about the pony express and answer reading comprehension questions; complete a word search; jerky and other recipes; horse lesson and crafts.
- The Pony Express
- Pages on history, riders, stations, maps, museums, statues, "Pony Tales", books, links, and quiz.
- Pony Express Information
- Lists all the most important facts about this way of mail delivery.
Ponies on the Express
Pony Express Quiz
Read "Pony Express Information" from the above link, then try the quiz to see what you remember ~ don't look back until after you take the quiz! :)
The Covered Wagon
Mini Van of the 1800's
- Covered Wagon
- A nice picture of a wagon labeled with parts and descriptions; also contains an informative article.
- Covered Wagon
- Small article about the wagon.
- Inside a Pioneer Covered Wagon
- Imagine putting all your belongings and necessities in a small wagon with your family ~ what would you pack?
- Covered Wagon
- Directions to make a covered wagon.
- Conestoga Wagons
- Nice teacher guide including language arts, math, science, art, cooking, and research.
- Westward Ho!
- This sure looks fun! The next wagon train leaves in 2010 - but until then, there are some interesting ideas and resources to use. All aboard!
- If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon
- Find out how to get ready for the trip and what life was like on the trail by searching for answers to several western questions.
Pictures of the West
Horses at Sumnervale
Cactuses, cogs, and...
Lebanon Christmas Pa...
Cacti
The Ride
Your favorite western lessons!
We're searching for more lessons and activities on the American West during the 1800's. Please list your favorite links. :D
Westward Expansion
Short article with maps and links.1 point
Western Expanion
Resources for western expansion topics from Mr Don more...1 point
Home School Information Zone (HSIZ)
free Westward Ho lapbook. Must be a member to aces more...1 point
Wild, Wild, West
Power Point Presentations & activities for kid more...1 point
American History - Free Powerpoint Presentations
Pete's Power Point Presentations & Interactive more...0 points
Learn by Playing
Blogs about Western Expansion
- Zionist Anti-Communist: Obvious Traitor File: Western Communists ...
- I don't want to accuse anyone of being aggressive [with respect to US plans to install a missile defense system in Poland and Czech Republic]. That balance will be upset completely and one side will have a feeling of complete security and ... The process of NATO expansion has nothing to do with modernization of the alliance or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it is a serious factor provoking reduction of mutual trust. The legitimate use of force can only ...
- Mrs. Hamilton's Class: Touring Asia
- I plan to use the third grade social studies core to teach this lesson. I will meet the following standard. Standard 1- Students will understand how geography influences community location and development. ... With westward expansion, why do you think so many people chose to live in California? Which land form have we seen in all of these places? http://www.foreclosureconnections.com/images/San-Diego-ca.jpg, Terrain, street view. Thailand, Using the kids' culturegrams, ...
- Zen & the art of chicken house maintenance. - Free Online Library
- By the way, here's lesson number one: If you're working shirtless, don't grab up huge armfuls of insulation to carry away for disposal. Fiberglas makes your belly itch. For a long time. "What's that dark brown mass?" I wondered, as I looked at a .... I don't want to have to chase this roof all over Log Cabin log cabin or log house, style of home typical of the American pioneer on the Western frontier of the United States in the great westward expansion after 1765. ...
- Literature Response Lesson Plans
- Although this lesson is based on the book "Night", by Elie Wiesel, there are many books and topics that could fit into this literature response structure (e.g., dust bowl, slavery, Westward Expansion, or immigration). ...
Traveling West
Happy trails, friends!
Give this quiz a try before you head out into the sunset!
More to come ...
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Thank you for resting your feet and watering your horses here for awhile!
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- Ramkitten Ramkitten Nov 30, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
- This looks like a great resource with lots of helpful links on the subject. Living in Arizona, I often think about the pioneers and what it must have been like for them. I was recently up in the Paria Wilderness area, and it's still so open, quiet and remote that it's easy to imagine a covered wagon riding alone across the desert. I imagine I see the plume of dust in the distance.
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Aug 7, 2009 @ 4:21 am
- This lens is now featured on Unit Studies: Fun, Creative Hands-On Leaning Group.
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Aug 6, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
- Welcome to the Lesson Plans Group.
Please consider adding this lens to the Unit Studies: Fun, Creative Hands-On Leaning Group.
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