Journeys West

Teacher's Guide

Journeys West engages students in inquiry into the theme of journeys through the exploration of topics such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the California Gold Rush, the Oregon Trail, Fur Traders and Native Americans.

Students learn about diverse groups of people who left their homes to start a new life as well as the native people they encountered along the way. Students understand that personal experiences of ordinary people help create our nation's history. These journeys were vastly different depending upon ethnic heritage, economic conditions or the motivation to travel. Understanding the viewpoints and personal experiences presented in primary sources is essential for understanding this time in American history.

This unit is conducted through a WebQuest. The integration of student interpretation and analysis culminates in a performance task in which students synthesize and apply their new understandings for an authentic purpose.

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.

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.

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