Lewis & Clark: The Journey Begins
I can describe the beginning of the expedition of Lewis and Clark.
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General
This is the second lesson in a series of lessons about Lewis and Clark. In this lesson, your students will review the Louisiana Purchase. Next, the class will discuss Jefferson’s main goals for the expedition and how Lewis and Clark prepared for the long journey. This exciting material covers the only death of the expedition, newly discovered animals of the Plains, and a near-battle with the Teton Sioux.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to describe the beginning of the expedition of Lewis and Clark.
Introduction
To kick off the next lesson about Lewis and Clark, the students will review the Louisiana Purchase. Using a map, they will see how vast the territory was that was purchased from the French. Discuss Jefferson’s three main goals for the expedition, how the keelboat was designed especially for the journey, and what preparations were made by the crew. Students get to engage with the lesson as they categorize items from the actual packing list!
Instruction
Explain what happened when The Corp of Discovery met Native Americans for the first time and how the only death of a crew member occurred after a burst appendix. Students will take part in a group discussion by using different points of view to explain how they would feel and act when meeting a Native American or an American explorer for the first time. Discuss some of the new animals that were discovered and written about in the journals of Lewis and Clark. Finally, the class will learn about the Teton Sioux confrontation which almost prevented the entire expedition from continuing!
Quiz
Students respond to ten multiple-choice and true/false questions.
Closing
Close the lesson with a map activity in which the students will move a keelboat along the Missouri River as they describe the events that occurred at each location.
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About Gynzy
Gynzy is an online teaching platform for interactive whiteboards and displays in schools.
With a focus on elementary education, Gynzy’s Whiteboard, digital tools, and activities make it easy for teachers to save time building lessons, increase student engagement, and make classroom management more efficient.