WILD WILD WEST CAREER LESSON PLAN BUNDLE- VOLUME 1

Grades 4-7
Sarah Peterson
Hands On History

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WILD, WILD WEST CAREERS BUNDLE - VOLUME 1

What was the United States like in the 1800s? The answer to that question depends on whether you are talking about the beginning or the end of the century.  From 1800 to 1899, the United States underwent major changes!

“Wild, Wild West Careers, Volume 1” looks at Westward Expansion in America during the 1800s by examining the careers of those men and women who paved the way and settled the land in the west.  Each of the lessons covers the careers and information about the era as it relates to the career.   Volume One includes: Explorers – Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea; Native American Chiefs, the Trail of Tears, and the Long Walk; Frontiersmen,  Davy Crockett and the Alamo; Gold Miners and the California Gold Rush; Pony Express Riders, the Telegraph and Showmen;  Homesteaders,  Wagon Trains, and, the Donner Party.  An outline of each lesson plan is listed below.

This product is also perfect for SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, enrichment learning, homeschool or co-ops! The reading passages are great for CLOSE READING with any non-fiction graphic organizer (not included).  THIS LESSON INCLUDES READING PASSAGES, ACTIVITIES, REVIEW GAME, WORKSHEET AND TEACHER’S KEY.

*These Reading Passages also appear in my other Wild West History Products

Wild West Careers: Explorers – Lewis and Clark

This product contains 6 one-page reading passages covering the Louisiana Purchase, the Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark, Sacagawea, the Expedition and more.  With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States almost doubled in size.  The Lewis and Clark’s Expedition to explore the new land began in 1804 and took over two years.  This lesson examines its impact on the United States and Westward Expansion and includes:

Reading Passages*

6 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

• America in the 1800s; The Louisiana Purchase
• Lewis and Clark: Preparing the Corps of Discovery
• Lewis and Clark: The Expedition
• A Realization
• Sacagawea’s Early Life
• Sacagawea on the Expedition

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Brainstorm – What Would You Bring?
• Map Work: Louisiana Purchase; The Lewis and Clark Expedition
• Job Application: Explorer
• Simon Says: Learn to Read a Compass!
• Go On an Expedition!
• Review Worksheet
• Writing Prompt
• Map Your Room
• Coloring Pages
• Review Game – Bingo Words and Clues

Wild West Careers: Native American Chiefs – The Trail of Tears

This product contains 5 one-page reading passages covering Native Americans and the Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears, the Long Walk, Native American Chiefs, and War Paint.  The Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears and the Long Walk were tragic events concerning the forced removal of Native Americans from their sacred land to reservations. The Job of Native American Chief is covered, as is Tribal War Paint.

Reading Passages*

5 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

• Native Americans and the Indian Removal Act
• The Trail of Tears
• The Long Walk
• The Native American Chief
• War Makeup

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Venn-Diagram
• Job Application – Native American Chief
• Mock Relocation
• Choose Native American Names 
• Apply Indian War Makeup
• True/False Review Game
• Coloring Pages
• Native American Story Scroll

Wild West Careers: Frontiersmen, Davy Crockett and the Alamo

This product contains 6 one-page reading passages covering the Frontier, the Frontiersmen, Davy Crockett, Texas Independence, the Alamo and more. Activities, review game, worksheet and teacher’s key are all included.  In the early part of the 1800s, land west of the Mississippi River was complete wilderness. This land consisted of rivers, mountains, forests and prairies and was occupied by Native Americans and wild animals. The frontier was the name given to the wild and unfamiliar land that lay west of civilized America. Davy Crockett was a Frontiersman and was present at the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.

Reading Passages: *

6 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

• The Frontier, Frontiersmen and Pioneers
• Davy Crockett – Early Life
• Davy Crockett: Congressman and Revolutionary
• Texas Independence from Mexico
• The Alamo
• Remember the Alamo!

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Job Application: Frontiersman
• Black Bear Safety
• Texas Declaration of Independence Group Activity
• Review Worksheet
• Review Game: Bingo Words and Clues
• Sugar Cube Alamo
• Frontiersman Coloring Pages

Wild West Careers: Gold Miners

This product contains 8 one-page reading passages covering the California Gold Rush Miners, the Camps and Claims, Life of a Miner, Methods of Mining, Merchants, Lasting Impact and more.  When gold was discovered in California in 1848, it didn’t take long for hopeful men (and some women) to begin heading west, expecting to strike it rich. “Wild, Wild West Careers: Gold Miners” covers the life of a gold miner and how the Gold Rush changed California and contributed to westward expansion.

Reading Passages*

8 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

• Discovery of Gold at Sutter’s Mill
• The California Gold Rush
• Camps and Claims
• Staking a Claim - Jumping a Claim
• The Daily Life of a Miner
• Methods of Mining Gold
• Merchants During the Gold Rush
• Lasting Impact of the Gold Rush

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Job Application: Gold Miner
• Create Newspaper
• Panning for Gold
• Review Worksheet
• Creative Writing Activities: Sutter and Marshall – How Did Their Stories End?
• California Mining Town Writing Activity
• Coloring Pages
• Play Review Game – True/False
• Analyze Words to “Clementine”
• Examine Other Gold Rush Songs

Wild West Careers: Pony Express Riders, the Telegraph and Buffalo Bills’ Wild West Show.

This product contains 8 one-page reading passages covering The Pony Express, the Telegraph and Transcontinental Lines, Former Pony Express Rider- Buffalo Bill Cody, the Wild West Show, Annie Oakley and more.  Imagine living thousands of miles away from your family with no easy way of communicating. Suppose there are no phones, no internet and no regular mail delivery. News of important events might take weeks or months to reach your loved ones. This is what life was like for people living apart from their families in the 1800s.  The Pony Express and the Telegraph were two attempts to deal with the communication dilemma.  Showman Buffalo Bill Cody started out as a pony express rider and his career is examined in this lesson plan as well. 

Reading Passages*

8 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

• The 1800s:  Life in the West
• The Pony Express
• The Telegraph is Here!
• The Telegraph Lines
• Buffalo Bill Cody
• Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show
• Annie Oakley               
• Little Sure Shot

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Create a Pony Express Rider Ad
• Complete Job Application
• Be A Translator! – Morse Code Activities
• Take the Pony Express Oath!
• Pony Express Relay Race
• Worksheet
• Create a Stamp!
• Pony Express Review Game – Bingo Words and Clues
• Pony Express Activity Suggestions
• Examine the Pony Express Route
• Coloring Pages

Wild West Careers: Homesteaders and Wagon Trains

This product contains 6 one-page reading passages covering Homesteaders and the Emigrant Trails, Covered Wagons, Wagon Trains, Sod Homes, the Donner Party and more.  At the beginning of the 1800s, America doubled its size when the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. But, buying land alone doesn’t make a country grow: the land needs people. How does a government build a population? In this lesson, students will learn about the Homestead Act and the pioneers who headed west to help grow America!

Reading Passages*

6 one-page reading passages covering the following topics:

Increasing the Population! 

Sod Homes

Homesteaders and the Emigrant Trails

Homesteaders and Covered Wagons

Wagon Trains

Tragedy on the Journey: The Donner Party

Activities:

This product includes the following classroom activities:

• Create an Ad for Free Land
• Complete Job Application: Homesteader
• Plan a Pioneer’s Trip
• How Big is a Covered Wagon?
• Homesteaders: Review Worksheet
• Review Game – True/False
• Make a Sod House
• Coloring Page – Pioneers Heading West
• Moving: Then and Now
• Primary Source Image: Examine a Sod House
• Homestead Activity Suggestions
• Writing Prompt

These Lessons can also be purchased separately!  

Click Here to Download Preview of Wild, Wild West Careers Volume 1

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