Posted by Cindy on January 20, 2009
Not everyday is a full unit study day around here, but today was one of those days where every subject just fit perfectly into the Lewis and Clark portion of our Westward Expansion unit. (Except Bible time. I could have fit that in, too, but we’re working our way through Hebrews and I didn’t want to take a break.)
So what did we do? Lots!
Math/Geography/Writing:
We had a lesson on latitude and longitude that included a notebooking page to tell what latitude and longitude are, as well as asking the kids to draw some simple maps with help from a couple of atlases we have around the house. I also had them find some places in the atlas and decide their location. Then I asked them a few questions to determine how far a person would have to travel from one place to another using only the latitude and longitude markings.
Math/Geography/Writing:
We did mini-archeological digs using rice and small objects I buried in the rice. To kick the lesson up a notch, the kids had to keep accurate records of their dig using cm grid paper. They had a ball using small paintbrushes to uncover the artifacts.
Nature(Science)/History/Geography/Writing/Handicrafts/Life Skills:
We made and completed explorer’s journals similar to the journals Lewis and Clark kept on their travels. I’ll do a more in depth post on these journals tomorrow, but essentially, after reading How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark
we went on our own journey to mark a trail, discover plants and animals and map our territory. Even though it was cold, it was so much fun!
Reading/History/Keyboarding:
Caleb especially liked the Go West Across America with Lewis and Clark interactive website. And they both did some quiet reading from our selection of westward expansion themed library books.
This is the kind of rich learning day that I just love! And, surprise, surprise, no one complained once about school today!
Posted by Cindy on January 4, 2009
Our Pioneer unit will soon be underway! I thought I’d share some of our plans as I try to get my thoughts organized.
I’ve added some links, activity books and literature books that I plan to use for our Pioneer Unit in my sidebar – scroll pretty far down.
Here’s the rest of the plan….
Daily
Copywork Quotes from Amanda Bennett’s Pioneers
Timeline and Map work
Reading/Research
Work on one or more projects (project ideas below) and/or work on a hands-on project from Westward Ho!, Pioneer Days or Wild West Days
Order of Learning – most of the outline comes from Amanda Bennett’s Pioneers, I have noted when I added something with an *.
Daniel Boone – pioneer, frontier boundaries after Revolutionary War, Wilderness Road, Northwest Ordinance
Thomas Jefferson – Louisiana Purchase
Lewis and Clark – Northwest Passage, plants and animals discovered (nature journals), geographic barriers, cartography, map of Native American tribes across N. America
Sacagawea – conestoga wagons, Monroe Doctrine, fur trade, Oregon Fever (*use some of the Sacagawea unit)
*War of 1812 – America & Great Britain, disagreement over shipping & trade on seas – Embargo Act, Henry Clay, fought in America & Canada, Star Spangled Banner, Treaty of Ghent
Jedediah Smith – Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail (*use bits and pieces of Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail units)
Davy Crockett – prairie schooner, Jason Lee, Independence Rock
*Trail of Tears – Indian Removal Act, Andrew Jackson, Cherokee history
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) – six states created from 1816-1821, wagon groupings, Pony Express
*The Battle of the Alamo – some of Alamo unit
*Oklahoma Land Run – some of Oklahoma Land Run unit
*Chisolm Trail and Cowboys – some of Chisolm Trail unit, Buffalo Bill, Ben Holladay, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill Hickock
Potential Projects
Choose one major pioneer to research and complete a biography project.
Choose one major westward expansion movement or event and create a presentation project.
Interview grandma (who is very much into our family’s history) about a pioneer relative. Put together a book including the story behind the person with pictures if able.
Plan and prepare for a “no electricity day”.
Prepare a book report on assigned chapter book.
As usual, I’ll be sharing bits and pieces of the unit as we go along. As my blog’s title says, we’re just about ready to go on “Our Journey Westward”!
