Lewis
and Clark - The Corps of Discovery
Student
Section
Lesson 1 - Maps
Study and compare the Lewis
& Clark map to modern-day maps of the United States. Use National
Geographic's Map Machine for you modern-day map references.
What are the major differences between the maps?
About what parts of the country did the expedition know the least?
Where could they have gotten information about unknown parts of
the country?
Trace the Corps of Discovery's journey on your modern map.
On what rivers did the expedition travel? How many rivers?
Through how many modern-day states did the expedition travel?
Which states?
With your group, make a map to your assigned location in the school
using your compass and graph paper. Make sure everyone in your group has
a responsibility (counting out steps, using the compass, identifying landmarks,
drawing the map).
Click here
for help using the compass! After you have finished, you will
put your map to the test!! Trade maps with another group - they will follow
your map and you will follow their map.
Was the other group's map easy to follow? Why or why
not?
What was your final destination?
What landmarks were identified to help you? Did they help?
What was the most difficult part of making a map?
Was your group's map a success? - did the group using it reach the
final destination?
Lesson 2 - Sacagawea and York
Write a short essay describing the contributions of either Sacagawea
or York. They were not considered official members of the team, yet
they played important roles in the expedition. The following questions
should guide your research and essay. Produce your essay in Microsoft Word.
Use these web sites to begin your research, but be sure to add at least
one web source of your own:
Information
about York
Women's
history about Sacagawea
Information
about the Corps
Living
history from the experts
Who was Sacagawea/York? Give background information
and interesting facts.
Why did she/he make the journey with the Corps of Discovery?
Why wasn't she/he considered an official members of the team?
How did Sacagawea/York help the expedition? Give examples and your
opinion on why he/she was helpful?
In your opinion, how would the expedition have been different without
her/him? Would it have been successful?
Lesson 3 - Journals
Neither Sacagawea or York kept a journal during the expedition.
Based on your research in Lesson 2, write a single day journal entry from
the point of view of either Sacagawea or York. You will read your
journal entry to the class. For reference, read some of the journal
entries written by other members of the team. Put yourself "in
their moccasins" and be sure to include the following (and more) in your
journal entry:
Description of an event, person, plant or weather.
Feelings/emotions about being on a long journey. (What do
you miss? Are you enjoying yourself?)
Predictions about the days ahead.
Lesson 4 - Packing for the journey
Work with your group to evaluate the types of supplies that will be
needed for the expedition. Begin with a brainstorming session and write
down all of your ideas. Consider the following:
What is necessary for survival?
What are the goals of the expedition?
What will the members want to keep them happy?
What can you get along the way?
Next, prioritize your ideas and pick the top 10 most important supplies.
Estimate the quantity of each of your top 10 supplies. Remember,
the expedition has 33 members and will last approximately ?? days.
Each group will present their list to the class and explain their choices.
As a class, create a master list of 20 essential items and the quantity
needed of each item.
Then, compare the class master list to the actual
supply list of the expedition. As a class, discuss the following:
What items were common to both lists?
What items did the class think were necessary, but were not taken
along?
Why do you think Lewis did not think this item necessary?
What items were not considered essential by the class, but included
on Lewis' list?
Just for Fun...
Be in charge and make decisions about what to do next.
Lead
the expedition!
