The Louisiana Purchase
Student Page

A WebQuest for 4th Grade Social Studies

Designed by

Jason Feathers

feathers@nsuok.edu

Artist rendering of Louisiana Purchase in 1804, on occasion of St. Louis Fair, in 1904

 

Introduction

 This lesson was developed to present the complex issues leading up to the Louisiana Purchase in ways comprehensible to elementary school students. To clarify how the Louisiana Purchase is connected to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

 

• The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most celebrated events in American history.
• This event is unique in that a vast territory was added to the United States through bargaining instead of war. However, the repercussions from the Louisiana Purchase were far from peaceful. Starting with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the addition of the Louisiana Territory accelerated the westward expansion of the United States.
• To examine the viewpoints of American Indians and non-Indian Americans in regard to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Learners

This lesson is designed to cover sixth grade Social Studies

The learner will need to have some background knowledge regarding the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and the westward exploration that followed. The learner will also need to know how to navigate the internet.

Curriculum Standards

The standards used are from the Oklahoma Department of Education PASS objectives.

Social Studies Standard 8^th Grade-1.1,2,4,6; 2.1,2

To present the complex issues leading up to the Louisiana Purchase in ways comprehensible to elementary school students. Students will be able to explain the connection between the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase.

 

Process

1.    Students will work in groups of two

2.    Each group will be given the name of a principal character involved in the Louisiana Purchase followed by a few questions.

3.    Each group will then use the websites and book listed below to find out what part their character played in the Louisiana Territory purchase.

4.    Groups will then write a brief first-person script about their character's part in the Louisiana Purchase and make a 9 x 12 poster with the name of the person. Also, print an important date (or dates) on which your character did something related to the Louisiana Purchase.

5.    Choose one group member to take part in a oral presentation

This lesson is designed to take place over a week (5 days). Students will spend two (45 min) Social Studies periods gathering information about their character. Two periods will be spent compiling information and making poster. The final period will be used to give the oral presentation.

Each group member must fully participate in all activities. The workload must be evenly shared between the two.

The Teacher needs to know how to navigate the web and background knowledge on the people and events surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.

Variations

N/A

 

Resources Needed

·        List of principal characters and questions

• Class set of Louisiana Purchase for Young People
  Blumberg, Rhonda. What's the Deal? : Jefferson, Napoleon, and the Louisiana

 

Websites

·          http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Education/LouisianaPurchase/LessonPlanandActivity2.htm#2.htmThe Louisiana Pru

·          http://www.tlaupp.com/LPTerritory.html#anchor2541585

·          http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h513.html

·          http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/Heritage/LouisianaPurchase/LouisianaPurchase.htm

·          http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0400/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0400/resources/0400_1010.html

 

 

 

One teacher is adequate to do this assignment. When students are in the computer lab researching their character a lab assistant would be helpful but not required.

Evaluation

I will know the lesson is successful by the depth of the information presented in the oral presentation. I will evaluate each student’s participation in the various stages of the lesson. Full participation and effort is required in each phase of the lesson to receive all the available points.

Learning Outcomes	4	3	2	1	Score
Student Participation	Student fully participated in each phase of the lesson	Student fully participated in almost every phase of lesson	Student somewhat participated	Student did not participate
Character Researched	Character was fully researched and facts were accurate	Character was researched and most facts were accurate	Character was somewhat researched and some facts were accurate	Character was not researched and the facts were wrong
Poster Project	Well done with all important dates identified	Well done with most important dates identified	Not well done and most important dates are missing	Poorly done and important dates were not labeled
Comments					Total Score:

Conclusion

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory was an extraordinary event. It was the beginning of the fledgling Nation laying claim to the rest of what we know today as the continental United States. It not only doubled the size of the young Nation but also opened up a new frontier to be explored. I think this event, when framed in an exciting way, is extremely interesting to students.

Credits & References

• Louisiana Purchase for Young People
  Blumberg, Rhonda. What's the Deal? : Jefferson, Napoleon, and the Louisiana