5th Grade Unit Summary – The Nation’s Westward Expansion



5th Grade Unit Summary – The Nation’s Westward Expansion

5 weeks – April 10-May12 (*4/14 Non-Student Day)

Monday-Tuesday (April 10th-11th)

Lesson 1: The Moving Frontier

The unit begins by talking about Daniel Boone as one of the best woodsman on the frontier. With frontiersmen, he led them into the Appalachian Mountains to build the Wilderness Road. The lesson begins with the Appalachian frontier and the first several groups of pioneers in 1775.

Wednesday-Thursday (April 12th-13th)

Lesson 2: Life on the New Frontier

River routes and trails west started building and the number of settler increasing. And so begins the pioneers in the new frontier, the new life they led, and the standard of living in early settlements. Because the new lands settled north of the Ohio River, the new government was formed from the stipulations of the Northwest Ordinance. A short story about Davy Crocket from a short book can be read to or with the class.

Monday-Tuesday (April 17th-18th)

Lesson 3: The Next Frontier

The next few units talks about the Louisiana Purchase, and subsequently the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A bigger frontier was available and just beginning to be explored. Introduction of maps and small map activities are also done during these two days, as it is much more helpful for the students if they had map of the United States and know how to read the key/legend. They also learn to understand the scale factor, and know how to calculate distance with the given scale on the map.

Wednesday-Thursday (April 19th-20th) (Map Lesson)

Lesson 4: The American Indians in Retreat

As the United States starts to expand, it is apparent that the American Indians occupied the land being explored. The government offered treaties for Indian tribes to sign, and if this failed, the land was taken by force. There was much Indian resistance, as battles and wars between the American Indians and United States started increasing. One famous incident of the United States forcing the American Indians off their land was with the Cherokee, and became known as the “Trail of Tears.”

Friday-Monday (April 21st-24th)

This is the end of the first half of the unit. A review lesson is given in class and the review worksheet for students to go over and discuss. The test up to this point of the unit is given on Monday, after any final questions the students may have.

Tuesday-Wednesday (April 25th-26th)

Field Trip and follow-up activity.

Thursday-Friday (April 27th-28th)

Lesson 5: Texas and the Struggle with Mexico

This lesson begins with the settlement of Texas. Mexico offered lands in Texas in 1823 to anyone who brought settlers into Texas, so long as these people became Mexican citizens. Soon the number of American started to outnumber the Mexicans, and so the conflict with Mexico begins. The War with Mexico began in 1846. Eventually the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848. Not only did Mexico give Texas to the United States, but also received $15 million for the land the United States received after the Mexican War.

Monday-Tuesday (May 1st-2nd) (Project Based Lesson)

Lesson 6: Oregon Fever

Beautiful descriptions of Oregon in newspapers and books made people think it was the next place to be, as thousands of families started migrating. Pioneers often took the Oregon Trail, as going by boat was expensive and took much longer. Once they reached Oregon, families needed to file a claim for land and build a cabin within six months. In 1859, Oregon joined the union as the 33rd state.

Wednesday-Thursday (May 3rd-4th) (Hands On/Minds On & Timeline Lessons)

Lesson 7: Migrating to California and Utah

This lesson begins with California in its early years. Spanish priests built the missions along the coast in 1769. Months before the Mexican war ended, and under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the land gained by the United States included California. Once gold was discovered in 1848, dreams of striking it rich began. Gold seekers, or forty-niners, bombarded the gold fields. As the huge population influx grew, fights, shootings, and injustice increased. Much prejudice was given to Mexicans, Blacks, and Indians. Also, settlers were going west to Utah to settle. The Mormon migration begins.

Friday-Monday (May 5th-8th)

Lesson 8: More Conflicts with the American Indians

This lesson discusses the Indian ways of life. It also talks more about how settlers pushed tribes over to other lands and the fights over territories. The treaties the United States signed with various Indian tribes were forgotten. However, in 1824, the United States starts to improve relations with Indians. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed. But as more settlers were migrating, they were disrupting the Indians way of life. Government intervention soon took place with the Plains Indians, but the agreements were soon forgotten as eventually settlers came to the Plains to stay, driving the Plains Indians out.

Tuesday-Wednesday (May 9th-10th )

This is the end of the unit. A review lesson is given in class and the review worksheet for students to go over and discuss. The test up to this point of the unit is given on Monday, after any final questions the students may have.

Thursday-Friday (May11th-12th)

Unit wrap-up.

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