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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Lewis and Clark: Why Explore the Vast Unknown?

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/16/g35/unknown.html

A lesson plan for Grade 5 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies

Provider: National Geographic

About this resource

Appropriate grades
5
Subjects
social studies (geography, United States history)
Provider
National Geographic

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Creative Commons License

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In this Xpeditions lesson about the Lewis and Clark expedition, students will interpret a map of the West as it was known at the time, learn what President Thomas Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis to accomplish, and explain why the expedition was important for the future of the country. This lesson can be conducted before watching the large-format film Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West.

Students will:

  • interpret a map to understand what Europeans knew about the West in the early 1800s
  • understand the importance of land and resources to a growing country
  • develop reasons to justify a geographic exploration of the West

You may have to wander a bit to find the Map of British Possessions in North America if you follow the link from the actual lesson plan. Or you can get there from here.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: The learner will IDENTIFY and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate information and formats.
    • Objective 2.02: Apply identified criteria to select resources.
    • Objective 2.03: Recognize the diversity of ideas and thoughts by exploring a variety of resources (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).
    • Objective 2.04: Develop and express personal criteria for selecting resources for information needs and enjoyment.
    • Objective 2.05: Determine usefulness of information resources.
  • Goal 3: The learner will RELATE ideas and information to life experiences.
    • Objective 3.02: Collect and compare information about diverse cultures, environments, and peoples.
    • Objective 3.05: Describe how information and ideas are influenced by prior knowledge, personal experience, and social, cultural, political, economic, and historical events.
  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
    • Objective 4.01: Identify information needs and formulate questions about those needs.
    • Objective 4.03: Develop a search strategy which includes the continuous evaluation of the research process and the information gathered.

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply key geographic concepts to the United States and other countries of North America.
    • Objective 1.01: Describe the absolute and relative location of major landforms, bodies of water,and natural resources in the United States and other countries of North America.
  • Goal 4: The learner will trace key developments in United States history and describe their impact on the land and people of the nation and its neighboring countries.
    • Objective 4.02: Explain when, where, why, and how groups of people settled in different regions of the United States.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 5

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.02: Make connections between texts by recognizing similarities and differences based on a common lesson, theme, or message.
    • Objective 3.03: Justify evaluation of characters and events from different selections by citing supporting evidence in the text(s).