Although these lessons are written for middle level students, they do contain suggested extensions and adaptations to facilitate their use with elementary and secondary students.

Each lesson in this unit can be used to achieve learning objectives in multiple subject areas. As a guide, however, we have grouped each lesson plan under the primary subject area focus of each lesson.

NOTE: In order to access and print the Student Activity Sheets for each lesson, you will need Adobe Acrobat. If you do not already have this tool, you may download Adobe Acrobat free of charge at the Adobe Web site.

Social Studies

Uncharted Territory
The student will examine the historical context of the expedition and trace the path followed by the Corps of Discovery

The Challenges Ahead
The student will explore the mental, physical, and geographical challenges faced by the Corps of Discovery.

Mapmaking
The student will explore the mental, physical, and geographical challenges faced by the Corps of Discovery.

Analyzing the Lewis and Clark Journals
The student will use journal entries from the Corps of Discovery to develop a historical narrative of the expedition.

Lewis and Clark and Native Americans, Part One
The student will identify the structure of the Dakota Nation and practice communication skills in the context of a conflict.

Lewis and Clark and Native Americans, Part Two
The student will work in a group to complete a map and discuss the impact of the expedition on the Lakota Indians.

Lewis and Clark and Native Americans, Part Three
The student will identify the contributions that York, Sacagawea, and several Native American tribes made toward the success of the expedition.

Math

Are We There Yet?
The student will estimate the time and distance traveled by the Corps of Discovery and construct a multiple line graph to visually compare the data.

Packing for a Transcontinental Expedition
The student will estimate the number and types of supplies that would be needed for a trans-continental expedition.

Collecting and Documenting Specimens
The student will apply measurement skills and ratio and proportion to collect data on vegetation.

Science

The Challenges of River Travel
The student will create a river and examine its dynamics.

Naming New Species
The student will practice skills related to the science of taxonomy.

Discovering New Species
The student will compare the positions of select animals in the food web both at the time of the expedition and now.

Language Arts

Describing the Unknown to Others
The student will practice their descriptive writing skills by communicating an unknown idea to another.

The Art of Communication
The student will explore communication challenges faced by the Corps of Discovery.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Read All About It!
The student will create and publish an online newspaper with details on events from the expedition.

Documenting an Historic Journey
The student will write a journal entry from the point of view of one member of the expedition.