This lesson explores the events of the United States' westward expansion, including encroachment on Native American lands, major land purchases, mass migrations such as the Oregon Trail and California Gold Rush.
- Grade Levels: 5-12
- Time Allotment: 55 to 65 minutes for classroom visits; 90 to 100 minutes for field trips
- ME Social Studies Standards
- C1: Economic Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- C2: Individual, Cultural, Internation, and Global Connections in Economics
- D1: Geographic Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- E1: Historical Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- E2: Individual, Cultural, Internation, and Global Connections in History
Preteaching
Intended to be completed in the classroom before the scheduled field trip or class visit, the pre-teaching activity will give students some familiarity with the terms, ideas, and visuals, that they will see during the actual visit.
- PDF: U.S. Shape Throughout History --> Answers
Guided Inquiry Exercise
During this portion of the visit, students will be asked to look closely at twelve to twenty maps that fit within the curriculum theme. Each student will need to find:
- something they recognize from previous class lessons or from the pre-teaching activity
- something they find interesting and want to point out to their classmates
- something they would like to know more about
Examples of Maps Used:
(sets of maps will vary)
- Post-Revolution Map of the United States, 1783
- Map of the United States, 1816
- United States, 1836
- U.S. with Mexico, 1839
- Illustrated Map of the United States, 1840
- Gold Rush Map of the U.S., 1849
- Post-Gold-Rush United States, 1850
- United States & Territories, 1866
- 'Map Showing Indian Reservations in the U.S.,' 1916
Interactive
OML visit themes have recommended hands-on activities or group-games that can be done in conjunction with the Guided Inquiry exercise.
- PDF: 50 Years in the U.S. Scavenger Hunt --> Answers
- JPG: 1816 Map
- JPG: 1866 Map
- PDF: Map Search Keys