Westward Ho! - Expansion of the Continental U.S. unit bundle, including text

This 13 day complete unit covers the country’s geographic expansion from the Ohio Valley to the Pacific Ocean in fulfilling its “Manifest Destiny” during the first 60 years of the new American Republic, both the various means by which the new territories were acquired and incorporated into the nation’s boundaries as well as the impact of white settlement onto native lands in the Ohio Valley during that time period. The unit covers the Northwest Ordinance, the Northwest Indian Wars, the Trails of Tears, and the acquisitions of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican-American War, which added California and the Southwest to the national boundaries. This is a “warts and all” examination of this period of history; it is both a story of triumph and tragedy as well as one of heroes and villains – some of whom were both, depending on how one looks at them.

This unit is based upon and complements my textbook “We Take Nothing by Conquest”, and is designed for both the novice and experienced classroom teacher as it contains everything needed for the full course. These materials – all of which have been battle-tested in the crucible of my own 8th grade classroom - include:
*a 60 page Teacher’s Guide which provides day-by-day and step-by-step instructions how to teach the unit and use all of the materials;
*43 pages of informative and interesting text, divided into nine chapters (the complete eighth unit of the textbook);
*an inquiry based study guide for each chapter to focus students on the main points and supporting details;
*quizzes for each chapter;
*PowerPoints with answers to the study guides for review, and including pictures and maps to stimulate discussion and enhance understanding;
*a Cloze activity for one chapter;
*two primary source activities: one on the Louisiana Purchase, and one on the Treaty of Greeneville;
*two competitive and educational games: one translating Lewis and Clark’s journal, using a cypher, and one racing to settle the Old Northwest;
*a Continental U.S. Map poster project, complete with instructions and a sample poster;
*a PowerPoint Quiz Show review game;
*a test prep study guide;
*and a unit test (with answers).

Answer keys and grading guides for all study guides, activities, quizzes, and project are included in the Teacher’s Guide. Materials are provided as word documents and PDFs in one zip file.

Created by Cliff Baker - Ye Olde History Emporium