Lesson Plans

Title: Life in the Southwest
Concept/Topic: Lewis and Clar, Sacagawea, Oregon Trail
Essential Questions:
What was the Oregon Trail?
Who was Lewis and Clark and what were some significant things they did?
Connection:
What do you know about Sacagawea? Lewis and CLark? The oregon Trail? (5 minutes)
Direct Teaching:
Lewis and Clark were sent to explore the South West. Publicly, the purpose of the expedition was to make friends with the indians so they could trade. However, secretly, Lewis and Clark went to find the northwest passage. On their journey, they met a shoshone indian girl named sacagawea. They took her with them hoping that she would be their translator.
In 1769, a Spanish missionary named Junipero Serra led many preists and soldiers north from mexico to california. His intention was to convert the american indians to christianity.
The Lewis and Clark expedition found beaver in the rockies and this brought many people there to hunt for fur. Trappers were also called Mountain Men. During Spring and fall, trappers put traps in icy streams. In July, they went to trade these furs for supplies. Trapping continued for the next 30 years.
Step-by-Step Explanation: Each group will create a drawing of what they think the oregon trail looks like.
Student Centered Activity: Draw! The person with the best drawing wins a prize!
Assesment: While students are drawing, we will go around and answer any questions.
Closure: Ask everybody some questions:
Who were lewis and clark?
what did they do?
what were the trappers also called?
what was the oregon trail?
why were trappers interested in the rockies?