Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
are best known for their expedition from the Mississippi River to the West
Coast and back. The expedition, called the Corps of Discovery, was the first
American expedition to cross what is now the western portion of the United
States. This expedition was brought
about by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the territory shortly after the
Louisiana Purchase. It began in May of
1804 and ended in September 1806. It consisted of a select group
of roughly 30-40 U.S. Army volunteers and explorers under the command of
Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Second Lieutenant William Clark. Before the
expedition, Meriwether Lewis was Jefferson's private presidential secretary. He
also served in the military, where he met his friend William Clark. After the
expedition, Lewis served a short term as Governor of the Territory of Upper
Louisiana before he died. Clark lived for many years and held various
government positions, including Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Governor
of the Missouri Territory. The primary objective was to
explore and map the newly acquired territory, find a practical route across the
Western half of the continent, and establish an American presence in this
territory before Britain and other European powers tried to claim it. They also were to study the area’s plants,
animal life, and geography, and establish trade with local Indian tribes. The men kept detailed journals and map sketches of their expedition. (Content)
Read the one page excerpt from the story of Lewis and Clark, highlighting the reason for the expedition and the journey together as a class. Discuss the location of territory they would
be traveling using the classroom map.
(DOK1) Ask students how long they think this would take in that time
period using horses and wagons to travel. (CC-R1.3.1, R1.3.3) (DOK2) Create a
list of supplies the travelers will need to survive. Again, reminding students of the time period.
(no roads, fast food, clothes, tools, etc..) (DOK2) Generate this list as small groups and then
share as a class. Show students excerpts
of journal writings from Lewis and Clark (on smart board, from the
Internet). Discuss the way these pages
look (handwriting) and the information the men wrote. Discuss the challenges they faced with
weather. Ask the students what they
would do when it got really hot or cold. Ask them what they would do when they
came across people who did not speak English on their journey. (DOK2)
Students will write a journal entry as if they were with Lewis and Clark
on this journey. (DOK3) The journal entry is to
be written to President Thomas Jefferson (cursive handwriting) about the
exploration of this territory. Students are to report their findings of
animals, food sources, ways they survived and traveled, what they found in each
new place, etc. Students will also draw/sketch pictures to go with their
journal entry. (CC-W.3.3a, W.3.3b)(DOK4) Students will share (read aloud) their
journal entries. (Creative Idea)
Domain 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c
Do you know the book Seaman: The Dog who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark? It might be a good read-aloud for students. I have it in the MS library, and it's popular.
ReplyDeleteIs there a woods nearby for the students to "re-inact"the journey while journaling and sketching plants? If not maybe some clips from Dual Survival or Man vs. Wild TV shows that might be appropriate and the students would get the "feel" of the struggle.
ReplyDeleteI like that the students then have to "report" to Jefferson as a way to summarize some of the information they learned.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that the Corps of Discovery used rivers as much as possible. Part of the reason they sought out Sacagawea's home tribe was to procure horses, which they didn't have.