1. Unit 1- Westward Expansion
Deep Sea Exploration
…the Final Frontier.
Space…
Antarctica
Word of the Day:
Frontier: the line separating areas of settlement from “unsettled” wilderness territory.
Warm Up:
What is a modern-day example of a frontier? In other words, what is an example of a large area or place that we have not fully explored yet?
The Wild West was considered a frontier because we had not settled there yet.
The Roots, Seed-SONG

2. The Last American Frontier
Overall Essential Question- Why would people take on the challenges of life in the West?

3. What is the frontier? The Frontier has generally been defined as the line separating areas of settlement from “unsettled” wilderness territory. From another point of view, the American frontier marked the dividing line between areas where Native Americans lived and areas settled by more technologically advanced people.

4. What is happening in this picture?
Look carefully at the picture. Circle FIVE things that stand out to you. Be prepared to discuss why you circled them.
What did you circle? Why?
What is happening in this picture?
Who is guiding them?
What do the light and dark places represent?

5. Physical geographic features of the Great Plains
Why would living in a place like this…
Effects
Feature
Factors
Supported large herds of buffalo, antelope, elk, and other animals
Travel across the plains
Source of water
Required settlers to come up with alternatives for houses,
Relatively flat grasslands
Several rivers crossed west to east
Sparse vegetation
Families came for the fertile land
Source of water, source of travel
Soddy houses— houses made of grass and mud
NO TREES= NO LUMBER
Are these “push” or “pull” factors?
make you build your house like this?

6. ----------- Chisholm Trail ----------- Oregon Trail
Step One:
Title Your Map: Western Expansion
Step Two:
Create a Key
^^^^^^^ Mountains
####### Railroads
_______ Rivers
Chisholm Trail
Oregon Trail
Key
^^^^^^^ Mountains
####### Railroads
_______ Rivers
Chisholm Trail
Oregon Trail

7. Mountains ^^^^^^^^

8. Mississippi River

9. Great Plains
Shade in the Great Plains in Red

10. First Transcontinental Railroad
Railroads
#########

11. Goodnight-Loving Trail
Cattle Trails
Goodnight-Loving Trail
(Green)
Chisholm Trail
(RED)

12. Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
(Purple)

13. Write a postcard back home to your family… what trail did you take to the frontier? What was there when you got there? Why did you go? Add a picture to your postcard