Zone+1+Materials

**Perspective: The American Settlers**
 * These are the resources utilized in Intervention Zone 1.**
 * (Return to Zones of Intervention: Click Here)**

"Westward Expansion Webquest ." Teaching Across Virginia's Curriculum at home(or school). Feb. 2004. Web 1, July 2011. [|http://www.radford.edu/~sbisset/westward.html] Provides: Links to various sites the students can use to:
 * gather information for their Journal
 * gather information about why the settlers expanded
 * gather information on why the settlers removed the Native Americans

“School house Rock – Elbow Room.” Online Posting. Youtube, 25, April 2007. Web. 27, June 2011. []


 * Video Description**: For those unfamiliar with Schoolhouse Rock, these were animated educational videos that were designed to air during children’s programming in the early to mid 1970s, but they continued to be re-aired for many years following. The song ‘elbow room’ was designed to address the topic of American territorial expansion. Admittedly though, it is extremely pro manifest destiny, and while the concept of conflict between natives and settlers is mentioned, it is glossed over. The video is dated, but I have found that all types of students often enjoy the humorous animation styles, and the ‘catchy’ tunes.

Useful historical subtopics mentioned include:
 * Louisiana Purchase
 * Louis and Clark Expedition
 * Manifest Destiny
 * Historical Variety / Types of Travelers
 * Concept of the ‘Wilderness’

"Manifest Destiny." Digital History. Web. 01 July 2011. < [] >.

Description: A brief series of six paragraphs detailing the concept of manifest destiny, along with six discussion questions. The passages should be suitable for the whole class, however, some historical/geographic vocabulary may need to be explained.

[|Encyclopedia Britannica Workspace] Provides:
 * Numerous articles and multi-media
 * Materials range in reading level
 * Access to the online encyclopedia

"The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Home. Web. 01 July 2011. <[]>

Description: Important Historical Topics ---The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization specializing in providing materials and resources for both teachers and students. This page contains a list of keywords/phrases from the topic of westward expansion. Each one links to another page giving a suitable definition, along with the needed background to explain it’s significance in American History. It includes such topics as: Spanish America, The Mexican Revolution, The Donner Party, Opening the West, Pathfinders, Mountain men, Pioneers, Manifest Destiny, Life on the Trail, The Texas Revolution, The Gold Rush, and many more, along with a description of the famous saying “Go West … and grow up with the country” by Horace Greeley. This resource though detailed, does not seem to be difficult to read, and it is most likely suitable for the majority of 8th grade students to use as a reference guide.

"Parody on: To the West." American Memory. J. Andrews. [n.d.] Web. 01 July 2011. <[|http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/amss:@field(TITLE+@od1(Parody+on+To+the+West++Andrews,+Printer,+38+Chatham+Street,+N++Y++[n++d+))]]>.

Description: Attached are lyrics to a historical poem parodying the noted expression of “Go West”. Because of its use of folk slang, and a few outdated expressions, it is suggested that it be used with students who have medium to high reading skills, as a way of augmenting their discussion about the challenges that came with moving west.

"American Indian Reservation Controversies: Preparation." Loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials. Library of Congress. Web. 01 July 2011. < [] >.


 * Description**: Inside of a lesson plan, designed for students in the 9-12 grade level, located on the Library of Congress’s website there are approximately 13 primary resource accounts from American settlers. Many of them are very dramatic, requiring the reader to analyze even the authentic primary resources for potential biases.

"Vigilante Justice, 1851." EyeWitness to History - History through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It. Web. 02 July 2011. < [] >.


 * Description**: This is a brief description suitable for most 8th grade readers about the concept of how the concept of the ‘Wild West’ was created.

"The California Gold Rush, 1849." EyeWitness to History - History through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It. Web. 02 July 2011. < [] >.


 * Description**: A brief summary of the ‘Gold Rush’ suitable for all 8th graders.

"Oregon-Trail Archive." Idaho State University. Web. 02 July 2011. < [|http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/00.n.trailarchive.html] >


 * Description**: This is a collection of primary resources containing both diary entries, and memoirs of people who traveled on the Oregon trail. Individual selections may need to be made for some students to accommodate for various levels of learning.

"The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893." EyeWitness to History - History through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It. Web. 02 July 2011. < [] >.


 * Description**: This is a written summary suitable for most 8th graders, explaining the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. Prior to this event that area had remained one of the last remaining ‘Indian Territories’. Through this summary students can also read about how chaotic the land grab actually was at the time.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition Concerning the topic of Lewis and Clark’s expedition which led to the western movement, the following two sites will be utilized.

"Lewis and Clark: PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 02 July 2011. <[]/>.


 * Description**: For the majority of 8th graders this site will be appropriate. It including an interactive map, documents, and summarized historical background information. It also features an interactive game entitled ‘Into the Unknown’ which most students should find very engaging.

Schanzer, Rosalyn. "Go West Across America with Lewis and Clark Game." National Geographic. Web. 02 July 2011. <[]l>.


 * Description**: As a way to accommodate lower level or special needs students, the following site features a game targeting a younger audience. It is still very educational, and interactive, but there is less reading, and it has a strong picture emphasis.

Music “America The Beautiful.”Online Posting. Youtube, 9 December 2008. Online Posting, Youtube. 2, July 2011. []


 * Description**: The American patriotic song ‘America the Beautiful’ was created at the very end of the western movement. In the karaoke version above, many of the ideas and emotions involved in Manifest Destiny and the movement west can be seen. However, before the song is performed in piece or as a whole, a discussion needs to be had with the whole class about the time and manner in which it was created. This song does in its later stanza’s make multiple references to God. The manner in which this piece is shown will depend upon how comfortable with that issue each of the instructors feels at the time of instruction