A+Picture+Book+of+Lewis+and+Clark+-+Reinforcing+Activity

Think Aloud/Visual Representations

Read Page 2: Lewis and Clark were supposed to go on this incredibly difficult adventure out west where no white man had been before. They expected to see great creatures like wooly mammoths! Think about this (as a class): What areas have we yet to explore? Create a list. - Deep beneath the ocean - Way out into space - Caves or tombs Think about this (in pairs, then share): What types of things might we expect to find in these areas we have yet to explore sufficiently? How do our beliefs about these unknown territories affect the way we behave toward them?

Read 3 – 8 - “In 1802 he and Jefferson had secret plans to explore the land beyond the western border of the United States.” Beyond the western border; so they were planning to explore land that didn’t even belong to the United States. - Emphasize Lewis’ mission from Jefferson and the things he was supposed to collect information about. o Why would these things be important to know about? - Discuss the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and how the United States doubled in size. o Turn back to the map on the first page to show students just how much the United States grew in size. - Discuss the supplies Lewis purchased to prepare for the trip.

Read 9 – 18 - Discuss the relationship with the Indian tribes Lewis and Clark met along the way. o If this land was all unexplored and just recently sold to the United States, why were there American Indians inhabiting the land already? o Why was Sacagawea so important to the expedition?

Read 19 – 22 - Discuss the things Lewis and Clark discovered. o Think about our world today and how much you know now about snakes, mosquitoes, and grizzly bears.

Read 23 – 32 - They finally reached the Pacific Ocean in 1806. - Lewis and some men separated to explore another route and got into a fight with the Blackfoot tribe. o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> What kind of strain would this put on the white men’s relationship with the American Indians? o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> How might this affect the United States? How might this effect the American Indians.

After reading the book and discussing these questions, have students design a before and after picture of the United States. Provide them with two blank maps. One map that would show the United States before the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark’s discoveries, and one for after these changes. Students should know a little bit about the United States previous to this exploration and should pull this knowledge to create representations for their “before” map. Students should label the major rivers Lewis and Clark traveled on to reach the Pacific Ocean. They should also draw or create representations of the things they encountered on their journey such as animals and Native Americans tribes.

Additional Standards: People in Societies