Georgia Standards
Social Studies
SS4H6 The student will explain westward expansion of America between 1801 and 1861.
a. Describe territorial expansion with emphasis on the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the acquisitions of Texas (the Alamo and independence), Oregon (Oregon Trail), and California (Gold Rush and the development of mining towns).
b. Describe the impact of the steamboat, the steam locomotive, and the telegraph on life in America.
c. Describe the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans
Social Studies
SS4H6 The student will explain westward expansion of America between 1801 and 1861.
a. Describe territorial expansion with emphasis on the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the acquisitions of Texas (the Alamo and independence), Oregon (Oregon Trail), and California (Gold Rush and the development of mining towns).
b. Describe the impact of the steamboat, the steam locomotive, and the telegraph on life in America.
c. Describe the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans
ISTE-Student Standards
1. Creativity and innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Research and information fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
d. Process data and report results
6. Technology operations and concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.
a. Understand and use technology systems
b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Research and information fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
d. Process data and report results
6. Technology operations and concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.
a. Understand and use technology systems
b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
Teacher's Tips
This project was designed to meet the needs of fourth grade gifted students but would still be accessible to all students. The concept of westward expansion is presented in a way engages the students to think about how it would have felt to live in that era and allows them to explore and make their own connections to a concept so far removed from them. In order to address different learning styles, three different products were given as options to share the information obtained by the students through research. For the kinesthetic and people oriented students, there is the option to create movies. For the word and interpersonal students, a PowerPoint option was available. Additionally, for the mathematically and spatially inclined students, there is a timeline option. The students are also allowed to choose which questions they want to answer which adds to their autonomy. Collaboration is happening as they work in small groups.
Use NetTrekker: If you have access, netTrekker is a fabulous resource to ensure your students are safely navigating the Internet and are able to find resources that meet their needs. I chose to find the resources for the students and place them in folders which I could then assign to each group or the whole class. Those links were copied and shared with the students for the purpose of this WebQuest here in the links found in the resources section.
Use NetTrekker: If you have access, netTrekker is a fabulous resource to ensure your students are safely navigating the Internet and are able to find resources that meet their needs. I chose to find the resources for the students and place them in folders which I could then assign to each group or the whole class. Those links were copied and shared with the students for the purpose of this WebQuest here in the links found in the resources section.
Here is a video I created to share with parents about how their students use netTrekker.
Time Frame
This project would probably be best implemented over a week or more depending on how much time can be devoted to it each day. It could easily be implemented in social studies as easily as writer's workshop.
Teacher's Resources
ReadWorks.org is a great website filled with leveled reading passages that can be used to support this WebQuest while addressing students' reading needs based on Lexile levels.
Click on the links below:
Articles and Other Lesson Ideas
Click on the links below:
Articles and Other Lesson Ideas