Lewis & Clark Site Map

CONNECTION TO LEWIS AND CLARK
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is probably the most thoroughly documented exploration in American history. Both of the captains kept journals and several of the men did likewise. The journals provide not only a historical record, but a valuable source of scientific and ethnographic information as well.

OVERVIEW OF THIS ACTIVITY
Students record their observations from a field trip (or other exploring activity) in a "journal."

PURPOSE(S)
To foster personal record keeping among family members, and to encourage observing and writing about one's observations at an early age.

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Brown paper sacks for journal covers
• Blank white paper, 1 or 2 sheets per student
• Piece of yarn or string about 20" long, 1 piece per student

TOOLS NEEDED

• Writing and drawing instruments--pencils, crayons, markers, etc.
• Scissors
• Ruler

ADVANCE PREPARATION

1. Assemble materials and tools needed for the journals.
2. Prepare the journals in advance according to the capabilities of students. If possible, allow children to make their own journals.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Stress the importance of the Lewis and Clark journals and other diaries for learning about the past. Read from a historic diary kept by a young person. (For assistance click on TEACHING AIDS "A" and scroll to "Children's Diaries.")
2. Discuss the positive aspects of keeping a journal--to remind us of pleasant times, to set down our thoughts, to save information we might forget, to keep family records, etc.
3. Discuss the field trip or other exploring activity. Ask students to talk about what they saw, what they did, what they liked best, least, etc.
4. After the discussions, pass out the preassembled journals or have students make their own. When completed, ask students to write and/or draw pictures of something they saw, did, or learned on the trip.

JOURNAL DIRECTIONS

1. Wad up a 9" x 12" piece of brown paper sack so that it resembles soft leather. Smooth it out and fold it in half so that it forms a book cover. (Figure 1)
2. Mark off triangles on each corner of the front cover as follows: With a pencil and ruler, measure 1" from each corner on all four sides and make a dot with a pencil. Draw a line to connect each set of dots, forming a triangle on each corner. (Figure 2)
3. Color in the corners with a dark felt marker or crayon.
4. Measure 2" from the top of the cover in two places about 3" apart and make a dot at each place. Place your ruler on the two dots and draw a line through them lightly with a pencil. Then measure 1 " below the first line and make another line in the same way. Print the word JOURNAL inside the two pencil lines. Erase the pencil lines.
5. Make a 1/4" snip at the fold line of the cover, top and bottom. (Figure 3)

FOLLOW-UP:

• Display the completed journals in the classroom.
• Have students read aloud from their journals.
• Allow students to take journals home to show their parents and friends.