Westward Ho!

Westward Ho!
An Internet Hotlist on Westward Expansion

created by Gina Morrison
Grand Prairie ISD

Introduction | Westward Expansion | Lewis & Clark | War of 1812

Introduction
Having recently celebrated the bicentennial of Lewis & Clark's historic journey, there is an abundance of information on the Web. Check out these sites on the Westward Expansion,Gold Rush, Lewis & Clark, and the War of 1812.

The Internet Resources

Westward Expansion

America's West: Development & History - This site has a great deal of information about the Westward Expansion including maps, links to additional sites, information on the frontier trails and trasnportation and is presented in a manner easily read by 5th grade students.
From Sea to Shining Sea: A Nation Moves Westward - Lesson planning article from Education World with activities, lessons, and additional sites.
Museum of Westward Expansion - This National Park Service site allows the visitor to take a virtual tour of the museum located at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Click on the link for Interactive Museum Tour.
Pioneers - This site, a finalist in the 1999 Think Quest competition, provides information on the pioneers' move west in a very student-friendly manner. It includes activities, recipes, and online quizzes.
The Gold Rush - From the same team that gave us the Oregon Trail site, this site is a companion to the PBS documentary. It has a section with fun facts just for kids, a teachers' guide, and links to additional sites.
The Oregon Trail - This web site is created by Prof. Mike Trinklein and Steve Boettcher, creators of The Oregon Trail, the award-winning documentary film which aired nationally on PBS. Very in-depth information about traveling the Oregon Trail. Scroll down to the bottom of the first page for a link to a printable teacher's guide that can be used as you use the site.
The Overland Trail - Links to information about all of the westward trails, including the transportation, the people, and the history.
The West - This site from PBS provides and episode by episode guide from the Ken Burns documentary. Click on the Lesson Plans link to find resources on how to use this information in your classroom.
Westward Expansion and Reform - From the America's Story site at the Library of Congress, this site designed for students has stories of people and events taking place from 1829-1859. Included are Mark Twain, Henry Clay, and the Battle of Buena Vista among others.

Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark - A very interactive site with maps and photographs which make you feel as though you are journeying along with them. The students will enjoy this site.
Go West Across America with Lewis and Clark - On this site from National Geographic students are invited to go with Lewis & Clark on a virtual journey west. Students are asked to make decisions as they travel. Each time they do, they are told the consequences or benefits of their decisions. They can also read the journal entries of Lewis & Clark as they go. This is a great site.
Lewis & Clark Interactive Journey - A different kind of interactive journey from the one at National Geographic Kids, this National Geographic site allows the viewer to see journal entries, historical photos, drawings, and more.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail - National Park Service site covering the trail in eleven states. It has basic information about the trai and a link to an interactive page where you can view interactive maps and read journal entries written during the journey.
Lewis & Clark's Historic Trail - An easy to navigate site includes maps, a timeline, journals, and biographies associated with this famous trail.
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery - What would we do without Ken Burns? This PBS site is a companion to the Ken Burns documentary. Journals, timelines, historical maps - images of primary sources and audio interviews with experts who are featured in the documentary.
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation - A chronology of the trip - lots of text.

War of 1812

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine - Learn all about the place that gave us 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
The Story of the Flag - From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, this site details the history of our nation's flag.
The War of 1812 - From History Central, this site provides information about the war in smaller, easier to read pieces of text. Just click on the battle you are interested in.
The War of 1812 Website - Comprehensive information about what is sometimes called the 'Second War for Independence'.

Content by Gina Morrison, gina.morrison@gpisd.org
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listwestwardgi.html
Last revised Mon Sep 14 11:50:03 US/Pacific 2009