Lesson 4

Lewis & Clark: Rediscovering our past!
Lesson 4

Title: "Taking a Virtual Expedition with the Corps of Discovery"

Grade Levels: 4-7 (teacher can adjust to meet grade level needs)

Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:

Students will know how to access Internet sites.
Students will learn to make choices in a "Virtual Expedition" that will call upon their reasoning skills.
Students will learn many facts about the Lewis & Clark expedition.
Students will complete at least 4 "Did You Know?" information sheets about some of the interesting facts they learned on their Virtual Expedition.

Duration: Approximately 2 40-minute class periods (could be more if you do all three sites).

Materials:

Technology Tools/courseware:

Teacher Notes:

The teacher should preview all three Virtual Expedition sites to choose the one(s) that best suits the needs and levels of their students.
The teacher will direct students to the site(s) that they have chosen for them.

The teacher will print out at least four of the "Did You Know?" Activity sheets for each student.

Procedures:

After previewing and selecting the appropriate "Virtual Expedition" site for their students, the teacher will direct students to the site.
The teacher may decide to give students the "Did You Know?" sheets before the Virtual Expedition and explain to students that they should write down any facts or information that particularly interests them.
The students will answer questions on their Virtual Expedition which will move them on to the next section of the Expedition (some of these sites give additional information about the Expedition).
Be a virtual explorer-Historic Steps of Lewis and Clark
Go West with Lewis & Clark
Into the Unknown - PBS
The teacher may allow students to complete more than one Virtual Expedition.
The teacher and students may share and discuss and "Did You Know?" sheets and may decide to display them in a "Lewis and Clark" corner!

Modifications:

Students not able to do independent reading, may be partnered with another student who will help them read the questions. Together they can decide upon the answers.

Enrichment Activities:

If the teacher and student wish, they may complete the attached Lewis & Clark Word search (Word search Answer Sheet) or they may decide to access the following site and create their own word search or crossword puzzle, using the terms they learned on their Virtual Expedition. Perhaps the class would like to compile a booklet of activities they create!

Evaluation/Assessment:

The teacher can use the "Did You Know?" activity sheets as a way to determine whether or not their students are comprehending the idea of "gathering trivia."
The teacher and students can use the word searches and crosswords as a class activity.

Language Arts:

Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.

Social Studies:

Understands the United States territorial expansion between 1801 and 1861, and how it affected relations with external powers and Native Americans.

References:
a) resources cited

Be a virtual explorer-Historic Steps of Lewis and Clark http://www.usaweekend.com/97_issues/971102/lewis_and_clark/971102trail_1.html

Go West with Lewis & Clark http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/

Into the Unknown - PBS http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/into/index.html

b) additional resources
Resource Page

c) student resources

Be a virtual explorer-Historic Steps of Lewis and Clark

Go West with Lewis & Clark

Into the Unknown - PBS

Lewis & Clark Word search

Word search Answer Sheet

Created by:
Jan Madden
Nicki Melissinos
Tammy Taylor
Marshall County Schools - Sherrard Elementary School and Union Junior High School