Click here for an introduction to the American Frontier!
How did the American West change during our country's early years?
Click on the picture for all links to Treasures Activities for Unit 2.
Join a Cattle Drive!
Discover author Laura Ingalls Wilder who was RIGHT in the middle of it ALL!
Discover the people and events that shaped our country
Click here for State Research
Click here to experience the Oklahoma Land Rush
Click here to find out what kind of person YOU would have been in the Old West
Group Activity
"Choose Your Travel Companions Wisely"
Teams of three are ideal for this exercise, however, your teacher may make adjustments to that number depending upon the composition of the class.
"Partners" (Roles)
The reporter - The reporter's chief responsibility is to write the stories and research supporting details. In addition, the reporter will work together with the team to develop newspaper headlines and opening statements and will be the main presenter of the electronic presentation. The reporter will maintain the "credits" list associated with the supporting details.
The researcher - The researcher's chief responsibility is to find the supporting details that describe the main points of the outline. The researcher will also work with the team to develop newspaper headlines and opening statements and will participate in the assembly of the electronic presentation. The researcher will read one of the news stories to the class.
Create a "supporting details" data bank of information using Word. You may cut and paste paragraphs containing these details to be used later during the writing activity. Make sure your reporter has collected all necessary credits for each data item that you collect.
The photographer - The photographer's chief responsibility is to find relevant images of the American West that relate to the time period chosen and to the particular stories that will be written. The photographer will maintain the "credits" list for the images and develop captions for each image to be included in the presentation.. The photographer is also responsible to work with the team to develop newspaper headlines and opening statements. The photographer will assist the reporter in writing the news stories.
Use the "Images of the West" fact sheet to record the URLs and credits for each image.
"Plan of Attack"
Imagine that you all work for The Sun Chronicle during the time period that you have chosen to research. Your editor would like to send the team out West to learn first hand about the life and dangers of traveling and settling in one of the western territories.
1. Choose a territory: Southwest/ Northwest/ Rocky Mountains/ Western Coast
- Choose a time period: Look through your textbook or other printed reference source to find a time period you are interested in. List some topics that fit into your time period.
Before your editor makes his/her final decision, s/he requires an outline (see main points). Right now, you will be gathering facts to support these main points and later you will write your stories based upon these supporting facts. You'll need at least five supporting details for each main point.
Main Points (research questions)
- What famous people lived in this territory? What was the source of their fame?
- What modes of transportation are available to settlers and traders in this territory?
- How difficult was the pioneer life in this territory? What was the life expectancy?
- What other dangers such as attacks from Indians, events of nature (droughts, storms), wild animals are associated with the dangers of this territory?
- Describe the life style of the tribes living in this territory. If there are none, why not?
- What significant events have happened during this time period to shape the this territory? (Gold Rush)
- What laws, acts, or political changes have been enacted by the U.S. government to encourage the settlement of this territory?
Bonus credit: How will you travel to your chosen area? How will your stories be sent back home? These answers must be accurate to your time period. List these answers at the bottom of your outline to receive credit.
"Stock-Up Your Wagon With Supplies"
Shopping for Information
Gather supporting facts and list the "credits" information (web addresses, etc.) where you find supporting details. This part is very important because you will need to return to these pages when you begin writing your stories.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/index.htm
From the television program "The West" presented by PBS public television programming (beware that some links at these PBS sites may now be inactive).
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/links/
A Web page with information about the Westward Expansion from the Frontier and Pioneer days to the modern west of today. Site includes links to trails, events and famous people who shaped the west.
All Social Studies Links
Try out Hyper History!
More Research Links for American West Unit:
American Frontier Timeline with links, maps and photos from PBS
Library of Congress: Timeline with more official links
All About the Oregon Trail
Gold Rush The Lure & the Legacy
Gold Rush! California's Untold Stories
The Gold Rush Links to Related Sites
Wells Fargo History Pages
Lewis and Clark Expedition in Google Earth
http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/du_peo_past.html Cowboys and Prospectors, Native Americans, Gunslingers and Gamblers, Spanish Explorers and Missionaries
http://www.snowcrest.net/jmike/westexp.html Westward Expansion
"Images"
http://CPRR.org/
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. You must agree to the permission guidelines.
http://gallery.unl.edu/ Gallery of the Open Frontier, University of Nebraska.
Follow these steps to reach your destination successfully
Write an introduction to your outline--mention the time period and territory. Describe what aspect of this time period your team is most interested in.
Write your outline using Word.
Write appropriate headlines and opening statements for each main point. Include these under each main point in your outline.
*Submit your outline to your instructor by December 1st, 2016!
Begin writing captions for images. Choose a medium for your electronic presentation and create some preliminary designs of what it will look like.
If you have survived so far, you're almost there!
"Editor Pledges Pay Hike Along With Approval of Story Ideas"
"You are approved--Now, write your stories"
Write three news stories based on the supporting details in your outline. Use the headlines and opening statements from your outline.
Each story should be about 150 words long. Include one or two images. Write as if you were an "eye witness" who observed first hand the place, person, events, landscape, etc. Submit your story along with the URL fact sheets. One story will be read by each member of your team at the time of the electronic presentation.
Get tips for how to write a good news story here!
(Remember the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, and WHY)
"Prepare a modern electronic version of your story"
Choose an electronic medium for your story. You may use the outline, headlines and images from your story to create a PowerPoint presentation, OR a Word collage, OR a collection of flyers or handbills, or a brochure. Use the point of view that this presentation may be used as an advertisement or travelogue encouraging people to go to your territory.
Finally....
"The Presses Roll" --Using the LCD Projector or Elmo, demonstrate your findings. Read your stories and display your electronic presentation.