HIT: Westward Expansion Unit

[Bob Haack <bhaack@LPS.ESU18.K12.NE.US>]

I got many requests to post a HIT on responses to my query about a Westward
Expansion unit, so here goes.......
 
Thanks to all who responded--the teacher for whom I made the request was
impressed by your ideas and prompt assistance.
 
Bob Haack
Pyrtle Elementary--Lincoln NE
-----------------------------------------------
 
>On Thu, 20 Apr 1995, Bob Haack wrote:
>
>>Hi netters--
>
>>A 5th grade teacher in my building is looking for a fresh approach to teaching
>>U.S. westward expansion in her social studies class.... If anyone has done
>>anything interesting on this subject and you are willing to share, please
>>respond to me directly.......
>*******************************************************
>
>ELEM: westward expansion
>
> I just finished one such unit. We made a newspaper on the Oregon Trail and
>incorporated Language Arts as well with fact and opinion. The students
>tasted pioneer food I cooked and wrote facts and opinions about that. We
>had the newspaper editor come and talk about fact and opinion. We then
>studied parts of the newspaper and then researched different Oregon Trail
>topics, such as the forts, gold rush, missionaries, etc. We had two kids
>work together on 12 topics. Then they wrote a newspaper article in
>different formats. We had an editorial, interview of the gold seekers,
>diagram of the Conestoga wagon, a map of the Pony Express, etc. Combined we
>had a newspaper. The kids were proud of their finished project. We will now
>go visit the newspaper office which does an excellent tour here!! Let me
>know what you think.
>
>Tongay Epp
>Elementary Media Specialist
>Columbus Public Schools
>email: tepp@gilligan.esu7.k12.ne.us
>----------------------------
>
>From: dlevitov@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us (Deborah Levitov)
>Subject: Re: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
>The possibilities for using the LMC are endless for this unit. Students
>could research an abundance of topics related to the time period...Native
>Americans of the Plains, the effect of the westward movement on them,
>famous people of the time, dwellings, life style on the prairie, life on
>the Oregon Trail. Students could read historical fiction and relate it to
>other research, they could read diaries from the time. This is the perfect
>time for students to apply outlining skills, create bibliographies, use
>indexes, search CD ROMS, use encyclopedias, card catalog, and go through
>the steps such as outlined on the BIG SIX. It is also a great time to make
>use of periodicals such as Cobblestone for research. Good luck!!!
>
>
>----------------------------
>From: "Kathryn K. Lafferty" <klaffert@pen.k12.va.us>
> Subject: Re: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
>How about inventing a time travel machine, and the kids go back in time to
>that period, and send postcards to someone in the present describing what
>life is like on the Oregon Trail (or wherever they happen to go). Please
>post a hit. Our 5th grades study this too, and I'd love to give them some
>fresh ideas!
>
>-----------------------
> From: Gerry Clare <gclare@cln.etc.bc.ca>
>
>How about comparing American westward expansion to Canadian westward
>expansion at the same time (roughly). Look at differences in climate,
>physical barriers, railway links, origins of settlers, etc.
>
>---------------
>
>From: "C. Powers" <cpowers@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>cpowers@red.weeg.uiowa.edu
> Subject: Re: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
>I would like to receive your responses to the Westward expansion query. In
>January Suzanne Cane posted a hit on Westward Movement activities. Should
>be in the LM_NET archives. Some ideas from that were: 4th grade newspaper
>written by the Oregon Trail travelers, a "pioneer day" or "Old Timers Day"
>with speakers and activities, outdoor activities too, a play called "How
>the West Was Really Won," and a class who built a western town as
>culmination of unit.
>Good luck and TIA!      Coky Powers
>
>-----------------------
>
>From: "MELISSA MALCOLM" <MMALCOLM@mtabe.k12.uvm.edu>
> Organization: Mt. Abraham Union High School
>Subject:        Re: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
> As part of Vermont's info skills task force (nice title for us, eh?) I
>worked with an elementary librarian on a westward expansion unit to be used
>as a sample for our finished document. As a base we used the novel West
>Against the Wind by Liza Ketchum Murrow (a VT author) and asked the kids to
>investigate what it takes to write historical fiction. My partner came up
>with some great ideas for end products (newspapers, letters from a wagon
>master to the people ready to head out). Her only concern was in resource
>materials; she has a decent collection and didn't feel she could support
>the unit. I have seen more than one reference to westward expansion on this
>listserv so I know there has to be material out there.
>
>----------------------
>
>) From: Cheryl Bybee <cbybee@tenet.edu>
> Subject: Re: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
>A teacher friend of mine has students put together a newspaper from the
>time period...I have seen them do Westward Expansion, World War I, and the
>"golden age." She teaches 9th grade American History, but I think 5th
>graders would be capable of doing this as well. Students included ads,
>human interest stories (imaginative) and News stories. The News stories, of
>course, is where the bulk of their research information is stored. Students
>of all capabilities really show lots of creativity in this exercise. Good
>luck!
>----------------------
>
>From: KAREN ALBRETHSEN <albreths@nevada.edu>
>Subject: ELEM: westward expansion unit
>
>The fifth grades in our school have been using a simulation experience for
>several years (one teacher has used it in various schools since 1984). It's
>called _Pioneers_ and is available from Interact. The reason they like it
>is they must do diary entries, so it includes writing; they must analyze
>trail decisions (which way to go, etc.); they must work as a group, just as
>wagon train participants did; they learn about taking notes on note cards
>and producing a paper from those note cards; they also make supply lists
>and take on the identity of a "family" on the "wagon train." Interact's
>address is: Box 997, Lakeside, CA 92040; phone (619) 448-1474; FAX (619)
>448-6722. The student LOVE it. And so do the teachers...two of them are
>sitting here with me, telling me what to write! Hope this helps.
>
>
>
 ====================================
 Bob Haack - Library Media Specialist
    Ruth Pyrtle Elementary School
            Lincoln, NE
     bhaack@lps.esu18.k12.ne.us
    ============================