1. Exploring with Lewis & Clark
Presented By Tami Draves
Appropriate for grades 1-8

2. Notes to the teacher
This a short unit on the adventure of Lewis and Clark. It was designed to help students become more aware of the travels and decisions that the explorers had to make.
I tried to keep it simple and usable for a single grade or for a small school. Some activities may require more help with the lower grades.
The materials are things you should already have at the school or at home. So there shouldn’t be any extra expenses!
Have fun with it and add to it if you want!!

3. Objectives The student will (TSW) learn who Lewis & Clark are.
TSW learn what the Louisiana Purchase is, the territory it covered and discuss its importance.
TSW will learn which states were the Louisiana territory.
TSW will make decisions about traveling and the consequences of those decisions.
TSW learn to create and break a coded message.
TSW create a time line the Louisiana purchase and ending with the discovery of the Pacific Ocean.
TSW= The student will

4. Web sites used

5. List of lessons
How long are we going to be gone? Covers about planning for a trip.
Can I really go? Covers what it takes to be an explorer and introduces the children to Lewis and Clark.
We get how much land? For how much? Are they sure? Covers the Louisiana purchase

6. More Lessons
Cracking the Code looks at the importance of communication and keeping a journal.
Marking the trail goes over reading and creating time lines.
Conclusion
Assessment

7. Ways to Assess the Unit 2-5 days
Older students could a do a PowerPoint presentation on the explorers travels.
Create a board game based on the exploration.
Do a written report.
Do an oral report.
Create a relief map of the route using paper maché and chicken wire.
Create a multiple choice or short answer test of your own.

8. Materials need for activities
Library books about Lewis & Clark - find books appropriate for for k-3
Construction paper-for journal covers
Lined paper for journal entries
Blank paper for time line
Blank outline map of the US
Outline map of the US

9. Materials need for activities
Current Social Studies textbook
Venn Diagram
Examples of different kinds of codes (Morse code, pig Latin, optalk ,picture codes, etc.)
Back pack
Heavy items to fill back pack (reams of paper, cans of food, weights)
Internet access
Activities that require materials from the list appear in bright green

10. Lesson Plans for Lewis & Clark

11. We are going to be gone HOW Long?
Lesson 1

12. Preparing for a long trip Lesson 1 (about 3 days)
What would you pack if you were going on a TWO YEAR trip?
Make a list of everything you would want to take. Remember you won’t be back for TWO whole years.

13. Things the Explorers may have taken with them
Paper
Gifts for the Native Americans
Weapons
Ammunition
Clothing
Tools
Reference books

14. Assignment
Create a Venn Diagram comparing the things we take today and what the explorers may have taken.
Pack a backpack full of the things you would take.( Fill the backpack with heavy items to represent the difficulty of taking so many things with you )
Now take a trip and make the decisions they had to make( 2 interactive sites)
You may choose to do all the activities or part of them. I would make sure to do #2 #3

15. Assignments continued
Now that you have seen what kinds of situations they encountered how would you change your list? Their List?
Discuss the difference between what would be a necessity and a want in this situation.

16. Can I really Go?
Lesson 2

17. What is an explorer? Lesson 2 (about 4-5days)
Find the dictionary definition of an explorer.
Discuss traits that would make a person a good explorer.

18. Definition of an explorer
Miriam-Webster says an explorer is
1 : one that explores; especially : a person who travels in search of geographical or scientific information

19. Traits of a good explorer
Enjoys adventure
Is in Good health
Strong
Good sense of direction
Can take orders if not in charge
Able to make good decisions quickly
Ability to get along with all kinds of people

20. Meet the Explorers
The best way to learn about the explorers is to read about them. For a good biography on them click here.
Have students in 4-8 each research one of them or someone who went them. list of other members.
They should find out where they were born and what they did before they were chosen for the expedition to the pacific.
For K-3 students read short stories about Lewis and Clark from the library.

21. Assignments for Explorers
Become a member of the crew and tell about yourself as if you were interviewing to be a member of the team.
Draw a picture of what you think a good explorer might look like.

22. We Get How Much Land? For How much?
Lesson 3

23. Louisiana purchase Lesson 3 (3 days)
Have students read the section in their SS textbook about the Louisiana Purchase.

24. Activities for Lesson 3
Analyze why France was willing to sell so much land for so little. About how much land do you think you get for 15mil. today?

25. More Activities
Draw the area purchased on a blank outline map of the US. Check your drawing with this one. Now on a US outline map color the states that were included in the purchase

26. Still more activities
Do a journal entry for President Jefferson & Madison on how they felt about getting the Louisiana Territory from France at this price.

27. Cracking a code
Lesson4

28. Communication Lesson 4(2-3 days)
The Explorers had to keep a journal of their journey. They also had to keep President Jefferson informed on the progress of their trip.

29. Jefferson wanted them to send him information in code
Jefferson wanted them to send him information in code. As it turns out they didn’t use a code.
But can you list reasons a coded message would be useful?

30. Can you crack the code? See if you can crack the following code
Hopavope a nopicope dopayop.
Jopesopusop isop loporopdop.

31. Did you do it? When you decode the message it should read
Have a nice day
Jesus is Lord
To use this code you have to spell out each word. Each consonant gets op added after it and each vowel is left alone.

32. Activities for lesson 4
Using the code you just learned create a message of your own give it to a neighbor to solve.
Create your own code. And write a message. Ask a friend to try to crack your code. (Remember to make an answer sheet so you don’t forget your code.)
Look up Morse code and tell the class how it works

33. Marking The Trail
Lesson 5

34. Does it matter when it happened Lesson 5(2-3days)
Lewis and Clark had many adventures during their journey. Several things happened to them along away. Yes it is important to put them in the right order. Had any factor been different the outcome of the journey may have been changed.

35. Working with a timeline
Look at this timeline and see all the events of their trip. Timeline. Once you get to the site click on time line.
Once you have spent some time reading the timeline create one of your own using pictures to represent the events by the dates (yes you may work in a group).

36. Conclusion (1 day)
Lewis and Clark had to make many decisions along the way. Every decision they made had an affect on the trip. They made mistakes and at times went a slower way.

37. However they never gave up
However they never gave up. They found the first route to the Pacific Ocean and explored many areas along the way. Because they never gave up they reached their final goal and helped to make our country a better place.
What can we learn from them?

38. Assessment Time
Now that we have found the Pacific Ocean I need to know what you learned. You may choose one of the assessments from slide 5