The Movement Westward - TeachersFirst

American Themes - The Movement Westward

Last Update: February 22, 2002

The Alamo - Grades 4-8 - The web site from the historical monument offers a description of the events that happened there and the larger story of the Texas independence movement.

Along the Chisholm Trail - Grades 4-12 - Here's a well-designed "labor of love" site that introduces a trail used by cattlemen. Along the trail, you'll learn why the Missouri ranchers didn't like the Texas ranchers, why a longhorn is a great steer, and other vital facts. There's serious history in all this, and the narrative makes it fun to read.

Crossing the Frontier - Grades 6 and up - This site, created by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, presents a collection of rare photos of America's westward expansion. There are also suggestions for lesson ideas, as well as background on how some of the photos were created. Images are outstanding, and the range of subject areas is interesting.

Daniel Boone - Grades 9-12 - The University of Virginia's Daniel Boone site provides a discussion of the roles of Boone as both an "empire builder" and a primitivist. Interesting site for a student interested in how historical characters acquire mythic proportions.

The Donner Party - Grades 4-12 - This presentation from Pacific Bell examines the ill-fated journey of the Donner party. There are extensive links to web resources, a complete narrative, and lots of activities suitable for use in a variety of instructional settings.

The Donner Party - American Experience - Grades 6-12 - The teachers guide from the PBS series offers a series of discussion questions based on the events described in the television program. You can also use the material if you have another way of introducing the narrative.

First Hand Accounts - Grades 6-12 - Here is a collection of first-hand accounts of pioneers and others who moved into the American west. They're a great introduction to the use of primary sources in studying historical events. Students may be particularly interested in comparing first-hand accounts of an event with the way in which those same events are presented today.

The Frontier House - Grades 4-8 - What was life like for families in the western plains during the 1880s? Here's a site that follows a team recreating life on the prairie during that time period, complete with activities for children. Users can read journal entries, and those with fast connection can watch video clips. This is a great "what was life like...?" site. Try combining this one with "The 1900 House."

Klondike Gold Rush Stories - Grades 4-8 - Drawn from the Smithsonian's history of the U.S. Postal Service, this page of Gold Rush stories includes narrative and pictures explaining how people arrived in Alaska and traveled inland to stake their claims in the gold fields. The site is remarkable more for its variety of original sources than for its visual effects, but there's a lot to learn here.

Lewis & Clark - Grades 6-12 - This is the web site for Ken Burns' PBS series on the travels of Lewis and Clark. It provides a significant resource for studying the explorers' travels, along with study suggestions.

Lewis & Clark Go West - Grades 2-6 - National Geographic takes an elementary-level look at the Lewis & Clark expedition. This site is suitable for hands-on use by elementary-level students. The design, content, and artwork are all of the quality you would expect from National Geographic.

Lewis & Clark in North Dakota - Grades 6-12 - North Dakota's Senator Dorgan has created this site which recounts some of the Lewis & Clark expedition's adventures in North Dakota. Interesting narrative, maps, and visuals.

Reporting on Lewis & Clark - Grades 4-8 - Here's a lesson that asks students to take on various roles in reporting on the progress of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The unit stresses research and preparation, and offers students opportunities to present what they have learned in a variety of formats. From the California SCORE series.

The Journals of Lewis & Clark - Grades 9-12 - This site from the University of Virginia provides an edited version of Lewis & Clark's journals recounting their two-year journey to the Pacific and back. Good site for students interested in primary sources.

Fur Traders & Mountain Men - Grades 5 and up - A look at fur trading in the Rocky Mountain west.

The Gold Rush - Grades 4-12 - PBS Online - This site provides background information, timeline, and illustrated explanations of what happened during the gold rush. Originally intended to accompany the PBS documentary, the site can also be useful for those who do not have access to the video. If you choose to use the video, there are lesson plans and handouts to use before and after viewing. The A "Fun Facts" section of information is interesting for all.

The Meeting of Frontiers - Grades 9-12 - This site from the Library of Congress compares the settlement of the American west with the Russian migration and expansion eastward, and highlights the meeting of the Russian and American frontiers in the Alaskan wilderness. Developed in both English and Russian, the site covers a half dozen major topic areas, offering combinations of narrative and archival images. This is a "compare and contrast" study that students don't frequently encounter, and it could be an interesting sidebar to discussions of either the American west or the history of Russia in the 19th century.

The Mormon Trail - Grade 4 and up - Examines life on the trails and the settling of Utah. Information and materials for all grade levels.

The Oregon Trail - Grades 4-8 - Another trail site, this one is based on the PBS program by the same name. This resource includes stories from the trail, a chronolgy of the trail's development, and an on-line teachers' guide. The site has interesting graphics and a focus on the stories of the people who walked and rode the trail.

Pony Express History - Grades 4-8 - A detailed, text-heavy account of the formation and history of the pony express mail service in the western United States. What this site lacks in visuals it more than makes up for with its collection of colorful stories about the owners and riders in this uniquely American communication service.

The Interactive Santa Fe Trail Homepage - Grade 4 and up - Information and pictures.

Western Trails and Expansion - Grades 4 and up - Overview of different trails and expansion routes, along with other historical information. From Brigham Young University.

Gallery of the Open Frontier - A work in progress from the University of Nebraska.

Ghost Towns of the West - Grades 4-8 - Ghost towns are a great "hook" to get students interested in how and why frontier towns were settled, and the reasons those towns died out - sometimes only a few years later. This site has ghost towns indexed by state, with maps and a brief history of each town. Visually interesting history with a different twist.

Gold Fever -- Grades 4-6 -- Introduce your students to the California Gold Rush. Follow along as you travel as the forty-niners did. This excellent site includes maps and descriptions. This site would be a great addition to any unit on the California Gold Rush.

By the Great Horn Spoon - Grades 4-12 - This ThinkQuest Finalist site is based on the book of the same name by Sid Fleischman. It describes the voyage to San Francisco and the role that the city played as a starting point for prospectors in the California gold rush. Lots of content in small pieces, with drawings by students and links to the book's text. This site could be used to study both the book and the history of the period.

The Gold Rush Virtual Tour -- Grades 4-6 -- Who discovered the gold? Who created the rush? Find the answers and much more on this virtual tour of the discovery of gold. Photographs help to recapture what the 49ers saw.

American West – Grades 6-12 - A presentation of the history and development of the American West, from the Frontier and Pioneer days of the Wild West, to today's Modern West. Featuring: Westward Expansion, Western Trails, America's Freedom Documents, Cowboys, Indians, Native Americans, Pioneers, Trappers, Scouts, Gunslingers and much more! Special Features: Lots of links, nice graphics, and animation. Good resources, and lesson plans for teachers.

Welcome To The West sponsored by PBS - Grades 4-8 provides students with several options in order to fully explore the era known as the Westward Expansion. "Events In The West" is an interactive timeline tracing events from ancient times to the early twentieth century. "Places In The West" is an interactive map covering the territory and times. "Tour The West" contains a multimedia guide which follows the eight-part PBS documentary series. For students completing research reports, I recommend clicking on " Archives of The West" which contains materials including memoirs, journals, letters, photos, and transcripts used in creating the documentary.

American Themes

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