Transcript Westward Expansion-Fifth Grade

Westward ExpansionFifth Grade
Marina Matthews
EDU 521.03
Professor Moroney
Summer 2010
Introduction
• The following unit plan encompasses the key
points of Westward Expansion in the United
States. The topics that will be covered during this
unit are the Why and How of Westward
Expansion, which will include coverage of the
Louisiana Purchase, Manifest Destiny, the
California Gold Rush, Lewis and Clark, the various
options in transportation to the West, and life
during travel for the pioneers. The unit will wrap
up with life on the Western front, including the
living conditions and hardships faced by the
pioneers.
The Context of My Project
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The students in my class will be the unit participants
I am teaching 5th grade
There are 25 students in my class
The students have had guided experience with computers in
the classroom and the teacher utilizes a SMARTboard
• The classroom contains 5 computers
• I am working alone
• The two detailed lesson plans will be covered on Days 2 and
4 of the unit
Aim of the Project
• Throughout this unit the students will learn the reasons for
expansion into the Western United States. They will learn
how pioneers ended up there, what life was like for them
once they got there, and the impact that time period has on
the United States today.
• They will demonstrate this knowledge through research,
writing, collaborating, forming opinions and putting
themselves into the experience of western settlers.
Justification
• I am using technology to meet my goals because, as we will be
learning about historical events, the internet offers a wealth
of knowledge about this time period that we may not
otherwise have, including genuine pictures, stories, and
artifacts.
• Technology supports the curriculum by allowing the students
to have a closer experience with the material and time period.
Materials
• Computers
• SMARTboard
• PowerPoint Program
• Internet
• Notebooks
• Textbooks
Time Frame
Graphic Organizer
NYS and ISTE Learning
Standards
New York State Standards
Social Studies Standard 1: History of the United States and New York
ELA Standard 2: Language for Literary Response and Expression
NETS for Students
1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Filamentality
2 Lesson Plans
• Lesson #2 - Following an introduction to Westward Expansion in the
United States, students will use an internet hotlist to research the
Louisiana Purchase and find out which states and territories were acquired
in the purchase. This will be done to 100% accuracy and will be followed
by small-group discussions on the impact of the Louisiana Purchase as the
beginning of Westward Expansion. Technology utilized: IntelliKeys USB ,
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Computers/internet
Lesson #4 - Following a class discussion on the various means of transportation to
the west for the pioneers, students will work in groups and research one of five
major trails leading to the west. The groups will create a PowerPoint presentation
about their trail which will be presented to the class the following day. This will be
done to 95% accuracy. Technology utilized: IntelliKeys USB , Computers/internet
SMART board activity
Weebly Website