Topic: Westward Expansion

After the Revolutionary War, the United States grew at an amazing rate. Many pioneers packed up their belongings and moved west. This unit on the Westward includes reading passages, organizers, character studies, vocabulary posters, timeline, map activities, a unit test, and more!

Your students will learn all about the Westward Expansion with information about:

• The Westward Expansion
• The Louisiana Purchase
• The Erie Canal
• The Alamo
• The Pony Express
• The Oregon Trail
• The Gold Rush
• Important Inventions: Telegraph, Steam Locomotive, and Steamboat
• Lewis and Clark Expedition

With Character Studies about:

• Meriwether Lewis
• William Clark
• Sacagawea
• President Thomas Jefferson

Activities Included:

✔ Comprehension Questions

✔ Pacing Guide with Video Links to YouTube

✔ Map Activities (4)

✔ Spotlight on Vocabulary

✔ Timeline Activity

✔ Graphic Organizers (5)

✔ Character Mini-booklets (4)

✔ Create a Trading Card Project (4)

✔ Timeline Activity

✔ Flip-Book (5-Pages)

✔ Writing Prompt

✔ Mystery Flaps Activity

✔ Vocabulary Posters

✔ Spotlight on Vocabulary

✔ Hidden Fact Sort (compare/contrast activity)

✔ Vocabulary Flip Flaps

✔ Unit Test with an EDITABLE VERSION

There are three main activities:
Vocabulary:
Introduce the vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters included. You could post these posters around the classroom and have students travel around to match up and define the words in their flip flaps or use as a center activity. These colorful posters have been recently updated in 2017!!

Reading passages:
Have students read the informational articles about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Each article has questions and scenes for students to connect and color. Next, read the character studies where students will meet Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, and Thomas Jefferson. The character studies come in color and black and white for students to color. You could have students work with a partner or in small groups. These could also be used as a center or learning station activity.

Student Activities:
There is a custom-created graphic organizer to highlight key information, and use for review. Have students complete the Map Activity, and Lewis and Clark Mini-booklet. Plus, there’s a 5 page Flip Book with a cloze passage, timeline activity, important items, and four facts about Lewis and Clark. I usually have students complete the pages of the flip booklet at a station or as a center activity. Then we build the pages of the book one by one. The booklets fit perfectly inside their interactive notebooks or as a stand-alone booklet. You could fold a 12×18 piece of construction paper in half to make a cover for the book.

Meets SS4H6 – Students will explain the westward expansion of America between 1801 and 1861.
a. Describe territorial expansion with emphasis on the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark expedition.
b. Describe the impact of westward expansion on America

Students will learn about Lewis and Clark and their famous expedition with this activity pack!

What’s Inside:
✔ Western Expansion
✔ Lewis & Clark Expedition
✔ The Team Hires Sacagawea
✔ The Expedition is a Great Success

With information about:
✔ Meet Meriwether Lewis
✔ Meet William Clark
✔ Meet Sacagawea
✔ Meet Thomas Jefferson

Activities Included:
✔ Comprehension Questions
✔ Map Activities
✔ Spotlight on Vocabulary
✔ Graphic Organizers
✔ 5-Page Flip Booklet
✔ Mini-booklet with Timeline Activity
✔ Vocabulary Posters
✔ Vocabulary Flip Flaps

There are three main activities:
Vocabulary:
Introduce the vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters included. You could post these posters around the classroom and have students travel around to match up and define the words in their flip flaps or use them as a center activity.

Reading passages:
Have students read the informational articles about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Each article has questions and scenes for students to connect and color. Next, read the character studies where students will meet Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, and Thomas Jefferson. The character studies come in color and black and white for students to color. 

Activities:
Students can complete the map activities, mini-booklet, and a 5-page Flip Booklet. I usually have students complete the pages of the flip booklet at a station or as a center activity. Then we build the pages of the book one by one. The booklets fit perfectly inside their interactive notebooks or as a stand-alone booklet. You could fold a 12×18 piece of construction paper in half to make a cover for the book.