Objectives
Students will:
- evaluate and gather information from
a first person narrative;
- analyze, interpret and
synthesize primary
sources such as photographs, prints, broadsides and maps
to understand
a point of view through online primary sources; and
- integrate multiple
resources to develop
an understanding of westward expansion.
Procedure
These essential questions serve as guides throughout
this unit:
- What were the motivations of the people who
traveled west?
- What conditions did they encounter as they
journeyed west?
- How did the conditions encountered influence
their decisions?
- What were the conflicts between the settlers
and the native people they encountered?
- How did policies of the U.S. government influence
westward migration?
Project guidelines for the student's exhibit will be helpful in creating the
journal, broadside and artifact.
Lessons one and two will require one class period, each.
They are conducted through direct instruction and establish the background
information and direction for subsequent learning.
The remaining lessons can be completed In 10 -
12 class periods of 45 minute duration. Students begin constructing their "exhibition" after choosing a role in lesson three. Lessons
four, five and six can be implemented concurrently through learning centers,
or they can be teacher directed in three, different class periods.
Lesson 1: Students are introduced to the theme of journeys and primary
sources as the first
step in understanding the viewpoints and personal experiences for this
time in American history.
Lesson 2: Students analyze five photographs and read five narratives
to better understand viewpoint and personal experience for this time in
history.
Lesson 3: Students choose a role (gold miner, pioneer family, Native
American, explorer or fur trader) for conducting an in-depth study using
the American Memory collections.
Lesson 4: Students explore maps in guided small groups to focus on how
the topography of the land impacted migratory decisions as well as created
obstacles for travelers.
Lesson 5: Students, working in guided small groups, engage in careful
analysis and deeper inquiry of photographs and broadside images to help
gain a sense of the people.
Lesson 6: Students meet in role groups to engage in careful reading and
interpretation of first person narratives from the American Memory collections.
Description
In this lesson from the Library of Congress, students will discover what motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s.
Resources
The American Memories Collection
Other Online Resources
Fiction Picture Books
- Bunting, Eve. Dandelions. New York:
Harcourt Brace, 1995.
- Moss, Marissa. Rachel's Journal: The Story
of Pioneer Girl. New York: Scholastic, 1998.
Historical Fiction
- Gregory, Kristiana. Across the Wide and
Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847.
New York: Scholastic, 1997.
- Gregory, Kristiana. The Great Railroad
Race: The Diary of Libby West. New York: Scholastic. 1999.
- Meyer, Carolyn. Where the Broken Heart
Still Beats: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker. New York: harcourt
Brace. 1992.
- Myers, Walter Dean. The Journal of Joshua
Loper: A Black Cowboy. New York: Scholastic. 1999.
Non-Fiction
- Hakim, Joy. Liberty for All? A History
of US Series #5. New York: Oxford University Press. 2002.
- Smith-Baranzini, Marlene. USKids History:
Book of the New American Nation. Covelo, CA: Yolla Bolly
Press. 1995.
Non-fiction Picture Books
- Kroll, Steven. Lewis and Clark: Explorers
of the American West. New York: Holiday House. 1994.
- Schanzer, Rosalyn. How We Crossed the West:
The Adventures of Lewis and Clark. New York: Scholastic.
1997.
- Schissel, Lillian. The Way West: Based
on the Diaries of Mrs. Amelia Stewart Knight. New York: Simon
and Schuster. 1993.
Poetry
- Turner, Ann. Grass Songs. New York:
Harcourt Brace. 1993.
Evaluation
The rubric for
assessing the performance task includes evaluation of the journal and
artifact content, conventions of language and visual presentation as well
as oral presentation.
Source
Reproduced from the Library of Congress web site for teachers. Original lesson plan created as part of the Library of Congress American Memory Fellows Program.
