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Thursday, March 6, 2014

Westward Expansion Unit Study

This 6 week unit study takes us from the end of the American Revolution, to the late 1800’s (We skipped the Civil War, because we’ll be doing a 6 week study of that war starting in March.)   We’ve covered The Lewis & Clark Expedition,the War of 1812,  the first 15 U.S. Presidents, the Homestead Act, the Oregona Trail,  the Alamo and lots of other interesting pieces of history, including a  Mississippi River Mini Unit.  As always, we have an extensive library reading list at the bottom of my post.   However, this time I also have some wonderful, free online resources for you to use and enjoy.

Lewis & Clark Lapbook, from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool.
Fauna of the West, from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool.
Flora of the West, from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool
On the Trail Cuisine; from Home Baking Association
Oregon Trail Lapbook, from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool
Oregon Trail Lapbook, from Lapbook Lessons
Westward Expansion Coloring Pages, from USA Printables

Below are a few of the activities we have worked on in this unit.

Lewis & Clark lapbooks.

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We made some pretty awesome moccasins.  I included a tutorial in my post Making Moccasins.

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We used these American Animals Flashcards ($1 bin at Target) to study some of the new animals Lewis & Clark met on their journey. 

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We worked on a mini-unit on the Mississippi River and learned about the ecosystems, water cycle and traveling by waterway.

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We studied the Alamo during the time of the siege and over throw. (February 23-March 6).

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We made Oregon Trail lapbooks, and watched the movie “Seven Alone”.

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No westward expansion study would be complete without covered wagons.  I had 4 kits, planning to let each child make 2 wagons.  Interesting enough all the kits were missing parts, so by the time we were finished we had enough for 2 complete wagons (glad I bought extra).

Have you ever seen the movie “Paint Your Wagon”?…neither has Olivia, but maybe it would have caused a more realistic looking wagon.  My husband assures me that the Indians wouldn’t attack such a colorful wagon, they’d think it was bad medicine.  I say it’s a sitting duck on the open prairie.

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The Lego people, and their belongs are all loaded up and ready for the 6 month trip west.  The lack of oxen to pull the wagons may slow down progress a bit.

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Library Resources:
Lewis & Clark The Journey of the Corps of Discovery; DVD by PBS Home Video
Lewis & Clark Great Journey West; DVD by National Geographic
Sacagawea, Heroine of the Lewis & Clark Journey; DVD by Questar, Inc..
Lewis and Clark American Explorers; by Arlene Bourgeois Molzahn
Lewis and Clark, In Their Own Words; by George Sullivan
The Lewis and Clark Journals; by E.J. Carter
The Lewis & Clark Expedition; by Carol A. Johmann
The Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804-1806; by Dan Lacy
Lewis and Clark and the Route to the Pacific; by Seamus Cavan
Lewis and Clark for Kids; by Janis Herbert
Lewis and Clark Explore the Northwest; by Clint Twist
The Lewis and Clark Trail, Then and Now; by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Sacajawea, Shoshone Trailblazer; by Diane Shaughnessy
Who Was Sacagawea?; by Judith Bloom Fradin
Sacajawea; by Joseph Bruchac
Sacajawea Wilderness Guide; by Kate Jassem
Daniel Boone, Frontiersman; by Janet & Geoff Benge
Daniel Boone; by Laurie Lawlor
Tall Tales & Legends, Davey Crockett; DVD by Shelley Duvall
Davy Crockett, A Life on the Frontier; by Stephen Krensky
Davy Crockett, Hero of the Wild Frontier; by Elizabeth R. Moseley
Davy Crockett, Defender of the Alamo; by William R. Sandord and Carl R. Green
The War of 1812; by Rebecca Stefoff
A Timeline of the War of 1812; by Sandra Giddens
The Star Spangled Banner Pop Up Book; by Calvert Gamwell
Pony Express Riders of the Wild West; by Jeff Savage
The Pony Express; by Elaine Landau
The Alamo; DVD (John Wayne version)
The Alamo; by Tamara L. Britton
The Alamo; by Tim McNeese
The Homestead Act; by Elaine Landau
Pioneers; by Dennis Fradin
The Pioneers Go West; by George R. Stewart
Pioneers, A Library of Congress Book; by Martin Sandler
Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails; by Verla Kay
Wagon Trains and Settlers; by Ellen H. Todras
The Oregon Trail; by Jean Blashfield
The Oregon Trail; by Mel Fried
The Oregon Trail; by Steven P. Olson
Children of the Trail West; by Holly Littlefield
Apples to Oregon; by Deborah Hopkins
Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie, The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell; by Kristiana Gregory

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1 comment:

  1. We are just beginning our westward expansion study. Thanks for giving me some more great ideas to include!

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