Online Resources for Westward Expansion

Broad Topic: Westward Expansion

Ducksters.com Click Here
Interactive Map of Westward Expansion Click Here
Scholastic Click Here
History.com Click here

Narrow Topics or Subtopics

The Erie Canal
The Erie Canal Click Here
PBS.org Click Here
National Geographic – Creating Canals (video):click here
History.com – videos: Building the Erie Canal (2:39):click here
Learn more about the canal hereClick Here

The Gold Rush
Videos about the Gold Rush Click Here
Kidport.com Click Here
Social Studies for Kids Click Here
Ducksters.com Click Here
PBS.org – map of the largest strikes: click here
Carpenter’s Discovery Triggers Gold Rush (3:15):Click Here

The Homestead Act
Social Studies for Kids Click Here
History.com Click Here
Ducksters.com Click Here
PBS.org – Frontier House video clips click here
National Parks Service Click Here

Lewis and Clark
Discovering Lewis and Clark: click here
National Geographic:click here
Kids Know It: Educational video with quiz: click here
National Geographic: Sacagawea: click here

The Louisiana Purchase
WatchKnowLearn.org: Louisiana Purchase in a Nutshell (1:11): click here
Ducksters.com Click Here
Social Studies for Kids Click Here
History.com Click Here
Learn more here! Click Here

The Oregon Trail
Go on the Trail too! Click Here
Ducksters.com Click Here
WatchKnowLearn.org – videos: In the Wake of Lewis and Clark (5:39):click here

The Pony Express
Ducksters.com Click Here
National Geographic – map and photographs: click here
Social Studies Click Here
The Pony Express Click Here
National Geographic Click Here

The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears Click Here
More information Click Here
A Brief History of the Trail of Tears Click Here
“We Shall Remain” (5:27) from PBS Learning Media:click here

The Transcontinental Railroad
PBS.org – photo gallery:click here
Ducksters.com Click Here
Teacher Tube Click Here
History.com Click Here


Other sources of information:
Visit  Google.com then type in Social Studies for kids and type in your topic

Visit the following website here and find out the following:

1.Who were Lewis and  Clark?
2.What did they do?
3.How did they contribute to Western Expansion?

Write a short essay in your content area notebooks. Use each bullet to write a paragraph. So you should have 3 paragraphs and an introduction and conclusion. Use your own words and quote from the text where necessary.

You can visit other websites such as social studies for kids for more information.

Westward Expansion Through Maps

                             Westward Expansion Through Maps

                       
When the United States won its independence from Great Britain at the end of the Revolutionary War, the country nearly doubled in size. The Treaty of Paris, signed with the British in 1783, provided for the expansion of the young nation west to the Mississippi River.

After 1783, the United States gained new land from European countries, neighboring countries (such as Mexico), and Indian tribes. This was done through purchases (paying for it), wars and treaties, and the forced removal of Indian tribes from the lands they had occupied for thousands of years.

The 13 original British colonies became the country's first states, but they were not the same size and shape as they are today. It took more than 176 years — from 1783 to 1959 — for all 50 states to become part of the United States of America.


Your task: Today you will begin learning about Western Expansion through maps

Current map of USA


1. Visit the Map of the US in 1800 US in 1800 .


Draw a T-chart in your content area notebooks with the following headings "Current Map of USA" and "USA in the 1800s"
Write down your observations about each map under each heading.

Then write a short response to this question: Compare and contrast the geography of the United States in 1800 and today in 2014? (What are the similarities and differences)

2. Now visit the map of the USA in 1860 US in 1860.Write a short response to the following question in your content area notebooks: What new information are you learning as you look at this map?

You can use the following thinking prompt to help you.
When I look at the map, I am noticing____(describe details on the map)____. This is making me realize___________________________.

3. Use the map to brainstorm and jot down some ideas in your notebooks on what was the Louisiana Purchase.

4. Next begin research using box and bullets on the following topic: The Louisiana Purchase.

1. What was it?
2. When did it occur?
3. Who were involved?
4. Why did it occur?
5. How did it occur?

Use the following resources to help you in your research:
Ducksters
Social Studies for Kids
History.com
monticello.org
US history
Geography.com
American History
Mrnussbaum.com/
Pbs.org

5. Visit the following map map of US rivers and click geological features to see the various rivers in the United States.

Examine the major rivers in the Louisiana territory. How is this map helping you to understand why Thomas Jefferson wanted to acquire the Louisiana Territory from the French?

Westward Expansion through Pictures

During the first half of the 19th century, the United States acquired millions of acres of new territory, and its citizens quickly began heading west to settle these new lands.

This week , you will be looking at images and videos to build your background knowledge of this period in American History.

Task A: Create a table with three headings in your content area notebook with: What I feel, What I notice, What I want to find out more about.

Look at the following images and fill in the table with your impressions:

ANDREW MELROSE--WESTWARD THE STAR OF EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY--NEAR COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA, 1867

JOHN GAST' - "AMERICAN PROGRESS," (1872)

WILLIAM RANNEY - "BOONE'S FIRST VIEW OF KENTUCKY" ; 1849.

GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM - "DANIEL BOONE ESCORTING SETTLERS THROUGH THE CUMBERLAND GAP," ( 1850-51)

First View of the Big Colorado River, from Summit of Mountain Between Camps 31 and 32 (1853)

Ho! For California! (1851)

Task B: After analyzing the photos and jotting down your impressions in a table. Begin preliminary reading on Western Expansion to find out exactly what it was and how it affected American History. At the end of your reading today, you should have one paragraph in your notebooks telling the reader what was the Western Expansion and Manifest Destiny in American History.

Visit the following websites to begin your reading:
Westward Expansion for Kids
All About Westward Expansion
Videos and Articles on History.com

 The Slithering Rocks of Racetrack Playa

After reading and answering the questions in the assigned article, visit npr here to find out more about the topic, listen to the story and to see the rocks move over time. Then complete the following in your science notebooks:

1. Write a short reflection on how this video helps you to understand more about the science article
2. Write a summary of your science article. You can use the graphic organizer on page 8 here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         NYTIMES Article: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Resigns

After you are done reading and answering the questions in the assigned article. You can watch a video here to find out who exactly is Eric Holder and what is the U.S. Justice Department.

The complete the following:
1. Write a short reflection on how this video helps you to understand more about the NYTIMES article

2. Write a summary of the NYTIMES article. Use a graphic organizer found here on page 8 to organize your thoughts.