Module 30: Westward Migration- Social Studies 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, your student will learn to compare and contrast different modes of transportation used during westward migration in the 1800s, categorize ways that pioneers adapted to or modified their environment, and describe how developments in technology impacted the lives of American pioneers in the 1800s. They will explain how the United States government encouraged westward migration and describe the lifestyle (including the established economies) of the people who went to California during the Gold Rush.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Transportation
  1. Compare and contrast different modes of transportation used during westward migration in the 1800s.
2 Human-Environment Interaction (HEI)
  1. Categorize ways that pioneers adapted to or modified their environment.
3 Communication
  1. Describe how developments in technology impacted the lives of American pioneers in the 1800s.
4 Government Incentives
  1. Explain how the United States government encouraged westward migration.
5 California Gold Rush
  1. Describe the lifestyle (including the established economies) of the people who went to California during the Gold Rush.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
transportation
westward migration
pioneers
human-environment interaction
communication
government
Homestead Act
California Gold Rush

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Transportation 5 Compare and Contrast Transportation Assignment
3 Communication 5 Pioneer Communication Tools Assignment
5 California Gold Rush 6 Life During the Gold Rush Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Transportation After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the types of transportation used in the 1800s and how it helped with the migration westward.
2 Human-Environment Interaction (HEI) After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain how pioneers adapted and changed their environment.
3 Communication After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain three things they learned about communication and how these communication methods changed the lives of pioneers.
4 Government Incentives After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain ways the government encouraged westward migration.
5 California Gold Rush After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain why people migrated to California.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Transportation
  1. What kinds of transportation did people use to migrate from the East to the West in the 1800s?
Human-Environment Interaction (HEI)
  1. How did pioneers adapt to and modify the environment on their journey?
Communication
  1. How did new communication methods impact pioneers?
Government Incentives
  1. How did the government encourage westward migration in the 1800s?
California Gold Rush
  1. Why did people flock to California in the mid-1800s?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 The Dream of Manifest Destiny: Immigrants and the Westward Expansion Nick Christopher
2 The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country From Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad Karen Bush Gibson and Tom Casteel
3 The California Gold Rush Mel Friedman
4 If You Were a Kid During the California Gold Rush Josh Gregory and Caroline Attia

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing