Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis and Clark Expedition
Students will gain comprehension of the Lewis and Clark expedition by learning how to create and use maps, naming new species and writing a journal from the perspective of a main character of the expedition.

Grade: 6th

Mapmaking

· Students will examine in small groups one of William Clark’s maps. They will write down their observations of the maps. The students will research his mapmaking skills to get an idea of how to create their own maps. Students will begin by making a simple map of the school. This activity will late be expanded by teaching the students how to use a compass and create a real detailed map of the school.

Naming new Species
· Students will get images of animals that they have never seen before. They will record in a book their descriptions of the animals and come up with a name for them. Student will then read journals of Lewis and Clark where they tried to describe different animals and come up with a name for them.

Historical Journals
·
Students will read a journal entry from the expedition first. Teacher and students will create a long list of the main characters from the expedition. Everyone will get one person to write about in first person. Students will research their person and write journal entries for an entire week, recording the daily life in their opinion of the person they have, including facts and information about them at that time.

Newsletter

· Students will get into groups, so each group will have one of each main character form the expedition in their group. They will come together to collaborate on a one page article describing the expedition from everyone in the groups point of view, giving insight into the activities and experiences they encountered on the way.

Student websites
· http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/
· http://www.lewisandclark.org/?p=kids&n=kids
· http://www.usgs.gov/features/lewisandclark.html
· http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic/kids/index.html

Teacher Websites
· http://www.lewisandclarkexhibit.org/4_0_0/page_4_1_0_0.html
· http://www.nps.gov/jeff/forteachers/upload/lctaggrades78.pdf
· http://www.amphi.com/~tlcf/bartley/web3/LewisandClarkTG.htm
· http://www.fs.fed.us/rl/lewisclark/lcic/teachers/index.html