Free 9th Grade Cause And Consequences Of Western Expansion Lesson Plan

Topic: The impact of geography and technology on the settlement of the West in the late 19th century

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the role of geography in the settlement of the West in the late 19th century.
• Students will be able to describe the impact of technology on the settlement of the West in the late 19th century.

Materials

• Maps of the American West showing major geographic features
• Images of technology used during the settlement of the West (e.g. railroad, telegraph, farm equipment)
• Handouts with information on geography and technology
• Computers or tablets with internet access

Warm-Up

• Have students sit in a circle and pass around a small object (e.g. ball, bean bag). As the students pass the object, they should name a geographic feature of the American West. When a student cannot think of a feature, they are out of the game. The last student standing is the winner.

Direct Instruction

• Display a blank map of the American West on the board and ask students to identify major geographic features, such as mountain ranges, deserts, and rivers.
• Discuss the importance of geography in shaping the settlement of the West. For example, the Rocky Mountains made transcontinental travel difficult, while the Great Plains provided ample space for settlement.
• Introduce the concept of technology and its impact on settlement. Discuss the role of trains, steamships, and telegraphs in facilitating the settlement of the West.
• Have students work in pairs to research and present a settlement story from the late 19th century, using the selected technology as a focus.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific technology (e.g., trains, steamships, telegraphs).
• Have each group research how their assigned technology shaped the settlement of the West.
• Have each group present their findings to the class.

Independent Practice

• Have students create a timeline that illustrates the chronological progression of western expansion during the late 19th century.
• Have students include on their timelines key events such as the construction of the transcontinental railroad, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, and the completion of the Panama Canal.
• Encourage students to use visual aids, such as maps and illustrations, to enhance their timelines.

Closure

• Review the most important factors that facilitated western expansion during the late 19th century.
• Ask students to reflect on the significance of western expansion and its impact on the development of the United States.
• Discuss how the settlement of the West helped to define the character of the nation, as well as its political, economic, and social identity.

Assessment

• Observe students during the class discussion and group work activities to assess their understanding of the factors that facilitated western expansion.
• Evaluate students' presentation skills and overall understanding of the topic through the completion of the project-based assignment.
• Administer a brief quiz to assess students' understanding of the factors that facilitated western expansion.