Entry 3 - continuing the expedition

LEWIS & CLARK CONTINUED                                             

This is a first grade lesson that will follow my previous lesson on Lewis and Clark/journaling. President Jefferson asked Lewis to be his secretary.  President Jefferson wanted to train Lewis for an exploring mission.  Thomas Jefferson was very curious about the WEST.  He wanted to learn about the land, plants and animals and about the people (Indians) that lived there.  William Clark was assigned to be Lewis’s partner in command.  Together they would explore the unknown land of the United States that had just been bought from France—it was known as the territory of Louisiana. The two men took soldiers, scouts, and boatmen with them on their journey. One of the most valued members of the group was Sacagawea, a Native American woman, married to one of the scouts. Without her help, Lewis and Clark's mission would have been far more difficult for she knew which nuts and berries to eat, and how to cook and stew meat. She also knew how to communicate with the Native Americans they encountered on their travels. Lewis and Clark created maps, explored rivers, collected and documented plants captured and drew animals such as buffalo, bears, and jack rabbits. Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to establish relationships with the Indians and prepare for trade with them.
(Content)

Read the story “Seaman’s Journal:  On the Trail with Lewis and Clark” by Patricia Reeder Eubank, (Standards 8.3.1A, 8.2.1A) Have the students recall facts from the story and answer questions. (DOK 1) (CC 1.2.2.B, 8.5.6.B) Provide students with a map of the United States depicting the route of Lewis and Clark's expedition. Ask them questions about the direction Lewis and Clark were traveling (which was previously learned). The students will draw conclusions as to the role that bad weather, illness and rough terrain may have played a role on the long expedition.(DOK 3) (Standards 1.1.1.D) Have students compare/differentiate with details and examples how traveling through the West at that time might have been difficult for Lewis and Clark compared to how it would be now for travelers. (DOK 3) (Standards 7.4.1.A, 8.3.1A)  Lewis and Clark made lots of maps while on their expedition. Let the kids create their own maps of more familiar territory, such as the school, their home or the neighborhood. Focus on adding the important landmarks in the area. Let each child make his own map or have the children work in small groups to create the maps. (DOK 4) If students map different areas of the school you could then have students use the maps to get to a destination. Students could also use a non-standard unit of measure to measure the distance of their routes, maybe a book or toy.  Students could make predictions of the distance first. (DOK 2) (Standards 7.1.1A) (CC 8.6.6.B) (CREATIVE ACTIVITY)

          
Domains: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c