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Lesson · Elementary (BRI Jr)

Expansion for 3-5

Grade
3–5
Published
Aug 9, 2024
A covered wagon pulled by two horses, with a person inside, set against a landscape of hills and pine trees.

About this lesson

How did the growth of the United States lead to challenges and opportunities for individuals?

How this lesson flows

Every stage is laid out below, so you can see the whole lesson at a glance. Nothing is hidden.

  1. 1AnticipateTo anticipate the lesson, build background knowl…
  2. 2EngageIn this portion of the lesson, students get hand…
  3. 3ExploreStudents investigate Manifest Destiny, the Trail…
  4. 4AssessIn the assess portion of the lesson, students se…

Guiding questions

  • Lesson Plan PDF Essential Question How did the growth of the United States lead to challenges and opportunities for individuals?
  • How did Manifest Destiny represent America’s desire to spread west?
  • How does the Trail of Tears conflict with the Founding principles of the United States?
  • What was the journey west like for settlers and Native Americans?

Learning Objectives

  • I can write an opinion paragraph. 
  • I can identify, classify, and write fact and opinion sentences. 
  • I can analyze written primary sources and compare the opinions in them. 
  • I can investigate maps to determine historical locations of Native American tribes.  
  • I can write an op-ed piece to showcase my learning about opinion writing and westward expansion.  

Content Objectives

  • I can consider opposing opinions of the Indian Removal Act. 
  • I can articulate reasons Americans moved west.  
  • I can discuss the concepts of Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny.  
  • I can describe the challenges of traveling along trails west. 
  • I can discuss the Trail of Tears and describe how it shows the United States has not always lived up the ideals of equality and respect.  
  • I can articulate my opinions about historical topics in writing. 

Lesson components

Everything you need, in the version that fits your class.

Activity3-5 Westward Expansion Fact vs. Opinion Card Sort 

An activity that asks students to sort primary source excerpts by fact and opinion.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Westward Expansion Task Card Answer Sheet

A handout to accompany the Westward Expansion Card Sorting Activity.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Westward Expansion Reading

Text that explores Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Trail of Tears Primary Sources

Four primary source resources from the Trail of Tears period.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Westward Expansion Fact vs. Opinion Sentences

Prompts that guide students to write fact and opinion sentences about historical topics from the lesson.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Writing Activity: Opinion Paragraph

A guided writing activity that helps student develop a point, support it with facts and personal connections, and bring it to a conclusion.

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Activity3-5 Westward Expansion Student-Self Assessment

A self-reflection activity that allows students to internalize their learning.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Westward Expansion Task Cards

A card sorting activity to give students an understanding of major events during the 1800s that relate to Westward Expansion.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Trails West Simulation Game

A dice game that allows students to understand the various groups that moved Westward and the choices they had to make along the way.

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Materials

Teacher Resources

Student Resources

The lesson, step by step

Open each stage as you teach it, or expand them all to read straight through.

More Information

This lesson is designed around inquiry questions. There is one essential question, and several guiding questions around which the content is based. The lesson takes place in 5 stages:  

  • Anticipate- Students build background knowledge needed to be successful in the lesson. 
  • Engage- Students are ‘hooked” into the lesson. 
  • Explore- Students grapple with the main content of the unit (usually 2-3 parts). 
  • Assess- Students demonstrate their knowledge through a performance assessment. 
  • Reflect- Students reflect on their learning in the lesson. 
  • The sections below provide a brief overview of the unit’s structure. It offers a snapshot of the organization and flow of the entire unit. 

The following detailed sections break down the five stages of the lesson. Each stage is discussed thoroughly with actionable steps to guide you through the teaching process effectively. 

Standards

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