by Lacey Schweitzer, Longfellow Elementary School
Standard:
H.3_5.9 – I can explain how individuals and groups contributed to North Dakota.
Time
The unit will take 8-9 class periods, a total of 320 – 360 minutes. Each lesson requires 40 minutes.
Technology Needed:
Internet connection on a PC or Chromebook laptop, tablet, or phone. NOTE: The unit includes videos that are hosted on YouTube. If your school network blocks YouTube access for students, you may want to plan to show these from the teacher computer during class time.
Summary:
This Unit plan on Lewis & Clark will cover how individuals and groups contributed to North Dakota. These individuals and groups include: Corps of Discovery, Sacagawea, expedition, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Thomas Jefferson, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Sioux, Chippewa, Metis, tribe, sovereign, treaty, reservation. Students will be able to describe the effects of the Lewis and Clark expedition in North Dakota history and be able to explain the contributions of Native Americans in North Dakota. Students will follow along by creating a Lewis & Clark journal, which will be based off of the readings completed in the Frontier Era of North Dakota textbook.
Lesson
- Introduce the unit with the downloadable Google Slides presentation is available here and as a PowerPoint presentation here. This presentation helps students gain a perspective on the adventure that the Corps of Discovery went through. Students will also be introduced to Native Americans who contributed to the discovery and how they helped shape North Dakota. NOTE: Assigned pages refer to the specific textbook used in North Dakota fourth-grade classrooms. Teachers using a different textbook will need to revise the presentation to match the pages in their textbook.
- Students watch the video: The Making of a Nation: Louisiana Purchase
- Students create a journal they will use as they read about the expedition in their textbook. Instructions for journal entries are given in the introductory presentation (#1)
- Students watch the video: Lewis and Clark: An American Adventure Story
- Students read about the expedition in the textbook used at their school. Alternatively, students can read from The Frontier Era of North Dakota, available online.
- Students read assigned pages on the Lewis and Clark and write in their journals. It is advisable to review each day’s assignment from the presentation.
- Group assignment #1: Students work in groups to research a member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
- Group assignment #2: Students meet in new groups and share the results of their research.
Game
For a review, students will play the game – “Math and Science on the Lewis & Clark Trail”.
Assessment
Students will take the post-assessment test. Teachers will be able to check for understanding, based on the data from the assessment.
