Lesson Plan

Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man - Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition - Lesson 4

Illustration of Lewis and Clark's three boats on the river
Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
30 Minutes
Common Core Standards:
6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.3, 5.RI.1, 5.RI.3, 6.RI.1, 6.RI.3, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.3, 8.RI.1, 8.RI.3, 5.W.2, 6.W.2, 7.W.2, 8.W.2
Thinking Skills:
Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience.

Essential Question

Did planning help lead to the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Objective

By the end of this lesson the students will be able to:
• List four important categories of equipment the expedition took with them
• List two of the Corp of Discovery’s accomplishments

Background

In this lesson the students will use a student reading to learn about the planning and eventual success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Just like today, when you go on a trip you plan and pack. Meriwether Lewis planned and packed for the expedition. The activity worksheet has the students match some of the supplies Lewis brought with what type of supplies they were. The students also write about how they think planning may have helped the expedition.
 

Preparation

Read the teacher background information on Albert Gallatin and make copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.

Materials

Download Lesson 4 - Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Download Background information for the teacher

Lesson Hook/Preview

If you are going to go on a long and hard mission you need to prepare. Lewis and Clark were going to explore land that was unknown to Americans. How would you prepare for an expedition into the unknown?

Procedure

  1. Introduce the guiding question to students.
  2. Hand out copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
  3. Have the students complete the reading and the worksheet.
  4. Review the guiding question.

Vocabulary

Corp of Discovery - the name Lewis and Clark gave to their group of explorers

Assessment Materials

The assessment is included in the lesson plan.  It has answers to questions on the activity worksheet.

Supports for Struggling Learners

You can read the material out loud to the students or go over the material as a class.

Enrichment Activities

At a place near Boseman, Montana, called Three Forks, the Missouri River branches into three rivers. Lewis and Clark were following the Missouri River and named the three branches. Research what they named the three rivers.

Research the portable soup, the air rifle, the keel boat and the iron boat Lewis brought with the expedition. Write a paragraph on their usefulness to the Corp of Discovery.
 

Additional Resources

Friendship Hill National Historic Site website: www.nps.gov/frhi

Related Lessons or Education Materials

This is lesson 4 of the curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man. You can find links to the other lessons below.

Lesson 1: Gallatin's Start in Politics
Lesson 2 : Gallatin and the Whiskey Rebellion
Lesson 3. Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 4: Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 5: Gallatin and New Geneva
Lesson 6: Gallatin as Secretary of the TreasuryLesson 7: Gallatin's Family and Timeline



You can also download all seven lessons, the entire 32-page curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man.

Contact Information

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Last updated: September 26, 2019