Lewis & Clark Site Map

CONNECTION TO LEWIS AND CLARK
Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1804-05 at the Mandan-Hidatsa villages in present-day North Dakota. Before the explorers left, the Indians told them as much as they could about the Missouri River on which they would be traveling. For example, they told them to look for a large waterfall on the river. When they came to the waterfall, they would know they were going the right way.

Before the explorers found the falls, however, the river forked, one stream going north and the other turning south. The explorers were uncertain which stream was the Missouri River. To take the wrong one would mean certain disaster. Therefore, Captain Clark took a few of the men to explore one of the streams and Captain Lewis did the same with the other. After a few days, the two groups returned to camp. They compared their findings and decided to take the south flowing stream. Lewis went on ahead and to his delight, he soon discovered not just one waterfall, but five waterfalls of various sizes in a ten mile stretch on the river. (For the original journal excerpt, click on JOURNAL ENTRY "A"/ CAPTAIN LEWIS FINDS THE GREAT FALLS.)

Everyone was relieved to know they were not lost, but going the right way. (To learn more about this momentous decision, read the Lewis and Clark journals for June 3, 1805 through June 17, 1805. For journal entries, click on

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/idx_jou.html

OVERVIEW OF THIS ACTIVITY
Students listen to a story about Lewis and Clark looking for the waterfall. With the teacher's guidance, students discuss how the explorers solved their problem, and how Lewis and Clark's experience can apply to their own lives. After the discussion, students complete a maze wherein Lewis and Clark search for the waterfall.

PURPOSE(S)
To introduce the Lewis and Clark Expedition story to young children by relating it to a situation many of them may have experienced--getting lost or worrying about getting lost; to foster resourcefulness in children when they find themselves in difficult situations.

TOOLS/MATERIALS NEEDED

1. Maps (See Advance Preparation)
2. Crayons, pencils
3. Copier
4. Copy of Maze Activity Sheet: HELP LEWIS AND CLARK FIND THE PATH TO THE WATERFALL. Note: Click twice on the Maze Activity Sheet for a printer-friendly version.

ADVANCE PREPARATION:

1. Obtain a map of the Lewis and Clark trail by clicking on the following Internet website: www.nps.gov/lecl/maps.htm. This is the official site of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Maps may be ordered by e-mail, phone, or downloaded and printed from the website.) Maps also may be ordered from any of the National Park sites on the Lewis and Clark Trail. For names and locations, click on NATIONAL PARK SITES ON THE LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL
2. Download and copy maze activity sheets for students.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Tell students the story of Lewis and Clark searching for the waterfall.
2. Discuss what Lewis and Clark did to keep from getting lost: they asked for directions (from the Indians), they listened to what they were told to do (find the waterfall), they kept calm (they stopped and talked about it), they made a plan (to explore both streams a short distance before making a decision).
3. Talk with students about their own "getting lost" experiences, how to prevent such a thing from happening, and how to deal with being lost if it should happen. (For references, click on TEACHING AIDS "A" and scroll to "Getting Lost.")
4. Pass out the maze activity, and give directions for completing it.

HELP LEWIS AND CLARK FIND THE PATH
TO THE WATERFALL

• Which path leads to the waterfall? Write the number here_____
  Color the path blue.
  
• Which path leads to the grizzly bear? Write the number here_____
  Color the path brown.
• Which path leads to the woods? Write the number here____
  Color the path green.

FOLLOW-UP SUGGESTION
Encourage students to take their completed maze worksheets home and retell the story of Captain Lewis finding the waterfall to their families.