1. Westward Expansion- Fifth Grade
Marina Matthews
EDU
Professor Moroney
Summer 2010

2. Introduction
The following unit plan encompasses the key points of Westward Expansion in the United States. The topics that will be covered during this unit are the Why and How of Westward Expansion, which will include coverage of the Louisiana Purchase, Manifest Destiny, the California Gold Rush, Lewis and Clark, the various options in transportation to the West, and life during travel for the pioneers. The unit will wrap up with life on the Western front, including the living conditions and hardships faced by the pioneers.

3. The Context of My Project
The students in my class will be the unit participants
I am teaching 5th grade
There are 25 students in my class
The students have had guided experience with computers in the classroom and the teacher utilizes a SMARTboard
The classroom contains 5 computers
I am working alone
The two detailed lesson plans will be covered on Days 2 and 4 of the unit

4. Aim of the Project
Throughout this unit the students will learn the reasons for expansion into the Western United States. They will learn how pioneers ended up there, what life was like for them once they got there, and the impact that time period has on the United States today.
They will demonstrate this knowledge through research, writing, collaborating, forming opinions and putting themselves into the experience of western settlers.

5. Justification
I am using technology to meet my goals because, as we will be learning about historical events, the internet offers a wealth of knowledge about this time period that we may not otherwise have, including genuine pictures, stories, and artifacts.
Technology supports the curriculum by allowing the students to have a closer experience with the material and time period.

6. Materials Computers SMARTboard PowerPoint Program Internet Notebooks
Textbooks

7. Time Frame

8. Graphic Organizer

9. NYS and ISTE Learning Standards
New York State Standards Social Studies Standard 1: History of the United States and New York ELA Standard 2: Language for Literary Response and Expression NETS for Students 1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Communication and Collaboration 3. Research and Information Fluency 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

10. Filamentality

11. 2 Lesson Plans
Lesson #2 - Following an introduction to Westward Expansion in the United States, students will use an internet hotlist to research the Louisiana Purchase and find out which states and territories were acquired in the purchase. This will be done to 100% accuracy and will be followed by small-group discussions on the impact of the Louisiana Purchase as the beginning of Westward Expansion. Technology utilized: IntelliKeys USB , Computers/internet
Lesson #4 - Following a class discussion on the various means of transportation to the west for the pioneers, students will work in groups and research one of five major trails leading to the west. The groups will create a PowerPoint presentation about their trail which will be presented to the class the following day. This will be done to 95% accuracy. Technology utilized: IntelliKeys USB , Computers/internet

12. SMART board activity

13. Weebly Website