Westward Expansion Interactive Notebook Unit (10 Literacy-Based Lessons)

TEN Westward Expansion/Manifest Destiny Lessons of Nonfiction Informational Text with a balanced mix of engaging hands-on activities + TWENTY INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK ASSIGNMENTS to explore the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Gold Rush, famous trails West, as well as conflicts including the Texas Revolution and the Mexican War:

Lesson 1: The New World
Lesson 2: The Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 3: The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 4: The Santa Fe Trail
Lesson 5:The Pacific Northwest
Lesson 6: The Texas Revolution
Lesson 7: The Oregon Trail
Lesson 8: The Mexican War
Lesson 9: The Gold Rush
Lesson 10: Westward Transportation

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THIS INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK UNIT:
Questions after each lesson to assess Informational Text Comprehension
thought-provoking Discussion Questions to stimulate Critical Thinking
Scale Mapping to trace the route of the Pony Express
Expository Writing and Research Projects utilizing Primary and Secondary Sources
Journal Writing utilizing Close Reading Skills
Paragraphs to compare and contrast John C. Fremont and Kit Carson
Lewis and Clark KWLH Charts followed by Expository Writing assignment
Vocabulary Activities and Quizzes

Students will then use the Westward Expansion Content to complete TWENTY Interactive Notebook Assignments (all patterns and step-by-step instructions included!):
THREE One-Pocket Vocabulary Organizers
THREE Vocabulary Foldables
TWO Vocabulary Flap Books
TWO Vocabulary Booklets
New World Four-Fold Organizer
Louisiana Purchase Cause and Effect Organizers
Zebulon Montgomery Pike Journal and Booklet
Daniel Boone Find the Fib Game and Two-Pocket Organizer
Pacific Northwest Interactive Expert's Journal
Texas Revolution Interactive Time Line
Famous Trails Flip Book
Interactive Venn Diagram (John C. Fremont and Kit Carson)
Gold Rush Accordion Foldable
Pocket Time Line (George Custer and Sitting Bull)

During their study of Westward Expansion, students will take an in-depth look at biographies of famous trail blazers Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Daniel Boone, Robert Gray, Andrew Jackson, George Washington Bush, John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, George Custer, and Sitting Bull.

We've included a context-appropriate Glossary, Lesson Plans, Answer Pages, and Grading Rubrics for the Writing and Interactive Notebook Assignments.

Authors Victoria Smith and Amy Headley are veteran teachers in Arizona with more than 40 years of teaching experience between them. They formed Splash! Publications with a very simple goal: provide teachers with resources that can be used immediately. No lessons to plan, vocabulary words to define, or activities to create. Simply open these teacher resources and start teaching.

Each of their 60 + teacher-created resources has been classroom tested and contains complete lessons with measurable objectives and a balanced mix of lower and higher level activities that keep students asking for more! Created by Teachers. It Just Makes Sense.