The Explorations of Lewis and Clark

Betsy Kay

Content Area: Social Studies Grade Level: 5th Grade Summary: The purpose of this instructional

PowerPoint activity is for students to better understand the voyages of Lewis and Clark. It is also designed for students to understand how they used water to achieve their goals and destinations.

Learning Objective: Given Web sites for information, the students will complete an interactive PowerPoint activity about Louis and Clark and their interactions with the environment (water) with 100% accuracy.

Content Standard: 5.3.02 Recognize the interaction between human and physical systems around the world.

Accomplishment: 5.3.02.(a) Describe human settlement patterns and land use in the United States and Tennessee

Want to learn more about Lewis and Clark? Use this link for information about the explorers Meriwether

Lewis and William Clark. You might want to take notes as you watch the video about their explorations on water. There will be questions for you to answer when you are through.

http://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/free-online-movies.php?movie=lewis%20and%20clark

Journaling on the RiversLewis and Clark both kept journals of their expeditions on the

water. In their journals, these explorers recorded thoughts about the people on the boats, adventures with groups of people they encountered, new animals and plants they saw, and what the land was like in the West.

------------------------------------------Here is a link to a manuscript of their journal entries. This one is

Lewis’s entry from Friday, August 1, 1806.

As you read, think about these things:How did Americans benefit from Lewis and Clark’s journals?What is Lewis’s tone-does he seem confident or scared? What

do you think his tone would have been in an earlier entry?

http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1806-08-01.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl

Fast FactsTheir expedition lasted for 2 years, and began with

only 31 explorers other than Lewis and Clark.Thomas Jefferson was President of the United

States at the time.They were the first explorers to go to North

America’s Pacific Coast and back, starting in the Ohio River.

The second river was the Missouri River.--------------------------------------------------------

On this Web site, scroll to the part that is titled How did Lewis and Clark name things?

Read and take notes.http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/living/idx_8.html

Question #1)How long were the Lewis and Clark expeditions?

A) 2 monthsB) 6 monthsC) 1 yearD) 2 years

Wonderful job!You got it right! Lewis and Clark and their crew’s

adventure lasted 2 years. They set out for the West Coast in 1804 and arrived home in 1806.

Question #2)What was the purpose of Lewis and Clark setting sail?

A) They wanted to see if their new boats would work on harsh waters.B) They were kicked out of the Eastern United States for being bad and were sent to the West.C)President Jefferson commissioned their adventure to make maps, discover new animals and land, and find routes to the Pacific Coast through bodies of water.D) They were supposed to sail to India to trade for spices and furs but got set off track and ended up in the Pacific Ocean.

Way to go!President Jefferson was inspired by the Louisiana Purchase

of 1804. He wanted to find out what else was in his country’s land, especially near the West Coast. Congress put together $2,500 for the trip Lewis and Clark were about to take, riding rivers across uncharted America.

Question #3) How did Lewis and Clark name plants, animals, and creeks they came across?

A) They named discoveries after past Presidents and explorers of America.

B) Discoveries were named after each other. Everybody on the exploration had things named after them.

C) Bodies of water, plants, and animals were all named after Lewis’s and Clark’s family members.

D) They didn’t have to name anything-they had already been discovered.

Awesome Job!Everybody on the expedition has things named and recorded after them-

even Lewis’s dog, Seaman!

Question #4) Which body of water did Lewis and Clark NOT sail on?A)Mississippi RiverB) Missouri RiverC) Saint John RiverD) Ohio River

Perfect Job! I am proud of you!

You are turning into a Lewis and Clark expert.

Now, let’s go back and review what we have learned together.

Conclusions and ReflectionsYou have just learned all about the adventures of Lewis and Clark and

how they sailed across America. Remember:-They were the first explorers to go on this trip to the West.-President Jefferson commissioned them to sail to the West to make

maps and discover new bodies of land and water and animals and plants.

-It took them 2 years to sail to the West and back.-They named new discoveries after each other.

Can you think of any ways that Lewis and Clark used a natural resource to better America? What would life had been like if they had not sailed to the West? How would that change life today? Take a minute to reflect on these questions and all of the information you learned about their expedition. Next, jot down a short, 1 paragraph ‘journal entry’ with your brainstorms (like the entries by Lewis and Clark) Then,share with a neighbor and see how your reflections match up.

CreditsImages:http://www.archives.gov/calendar/images/lewis-and-clark-in

-canoes.jpghttp://www.eastiron.org/staffweb/jdejohn/Social%20Studies

/Lewis%20and%20clark/mr_dejohns_lewis_and_clark%20index.htm

http://walkforrestwalk.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/archive/xpeditions/activities/01/lewis_map_4.html?ar_a=1

http://meilee.edu.glogster.com/Lewis-and-Clark-Expedition/

Research:http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/living/idx_8.htmlhttp://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/f

ree-online-movies.php?movie=lewis%20and%20clarkhttp://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1806-0

8-01.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl The End

Oops!

Sorry, but that answer is incorrect. Check with your

notes, and try again!