The Westward Movement--
Two Points of View
We can learn a lot about our history by looking at the past from different points of view. We can also learn about how history applies to our lives today by looking at events from the perspective of people who lived long ago.
From a modern perspective, the government’s treatment of Native Americans was reprehensible. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, most early settlers felt it was their Manifest Destiny to claim land and settle the country from sea to sea. Many felt that the Native Americans were inferior because they didn’t hold the same religious beliefs.
Overcrowding on the East Coast and the prospect of cheap, fertile farmland in other areas drove the settlers farther and farther westward. Stories of gold on Native American lands spurred the government to remove the tribes from their homes.
But most importantly, and perhaps tragically, it was hard for settlers to see the similarities and differences between the Native Americans and themselves.
The same types of problems exist around the world today when two different groups want the same land or when different races clash because of the actions of a few. It is important to look at the big picture from all vantage points. More often than not, we can find many similarities between the groups.
CREATING THE BULLETIN BOARD
· Research the different points of view between the settlers and the Native Americans using the Venn diagram.
· The class will then be divided into two groups: settlers (if your classroom number is odd) and Native Americans (if your classroom number is even).
· Each student will write a letter to the other group explaining why his or her group should have the land. You should design stationery for the published version of your letter by creating a border around your writing that features Native American designs or colonial icons (depending on the perspective they’re representing).
· We will hang this Compare/Contrast Text Structure of the opposing viewpoints on opposite sides in the hallway with a banner that reads “The Westward Movement: Differing Perspectives.”
> ymbolA�-a���x�t-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black'>· On the back of the notice, do one of the following:
o Draw a picture of a farmer in front of his sod house. Write a few sentences describing what it must have been like to live in such a house.
o Draw a large “T ” on the paper. On the left side, write a list of pros associated with being a homesteader. On the right side, write a list of cons.
Turn into the Centers basket before you attach to Green construction paper � m���x�ont-family:Symbol;color:black'>· Then you will attach it to Green construction paper with the title: “Story Quilt of my Westward Adventure”.
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PANEL 8: Accept all reasonable responses. |�btx����argin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none'>
Tracing the Old Spanish Trail--
· The Old Spanish Trail was a continuation of the Santa Fe Trail, with its jumping-off point at Santa Fe. From here, pioneers continued in a northwest direction. Once they crossed the Colorado River they turned southwest, crossed the Mojave Desert and Sierra Madre Mountains, and headed to Los Angeles.
· After they have traced all four trails, fill in the map key with the color that corresponds to each trail. Keep their maps handy so you can use them for the next activity.
Two Points of View
We can learn a lot about our history by looking at the past from different points of view. We can also learn about how history applies to our lives today by looking at events from the perspective of people who lived long ago.
From a modern perspective, the government’s treatment of Native Americans was reprehensible. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, most early settlers felt it was their Manifest Destiny to claim land and settle the country from sea to sea. Many felt that the Native Americans were inferior because they didn’t hold the same religious beliefs.
Overcrowding on the East Coast and the prospect of cheap, fertile farmland in other areas drove the settlers farther and farther westward. Stories of gold on Native American lands spurred the government to remove the tribes from their homes.
But most importantly, and perhaps tragically, it was hard for settlers to see the similarities and differences between the Native Americans and themselves.
The same types of problems exist around the world today when two different groups want the same land or when different races clash because of the actions of a few. It is important to look at the big picture from all vantage points. More often than not, we can find many similarities between the groups.
CREATING THE BULLETIN BOARD
· Research the different points of view between the settlers and the Native Americans using the Venn diagram.
· The class will then be divided into two groups: settlers (if your classroom number is odd) and Native Americans (if your classroom number is even).
· Each student will write a letter to the other group explaining why his or her group should have the land. You should design stationery for the published version of your letter by creating a border around your writing that features Native American designs or colonial icons (depending on the perspective they’re representing).
· We will hang this Compare/Contrast Text Structure of the opposing viewpoints on opposite sides in the hallway with a banner that reads “The Westward Movement: Differing Perspectives.”
> ymbolA�-a���x�t-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black'>· On the back of the notice, do one of the following:
o Draw a picture of a farmer in front of his sod house. Write a few sentences describing what it must have been like to live in such a house.
o Draw a large “T ” on the paper. On the left side, write a list of pros associated with being a homesteader. On the right side, write a list of cons.
Turn into the Centers basket before you attach to Green construction paper � m���x�ont-family:Symbol;color:black'>· Then you will attach it to Green construction paper with the title: “Story Quilt of my Westward Adventure”.
an>.
PANEL 8: Accept all reasonable responses. |�btx����argin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none'>
Tracing the Old Spanish Trail--
· The Old Spanish Trail was a continuation of the Santa Fe Trail, with its jumping-off point at Santa Fe. From here, pioneers continued in a northwest direction. Once they crossed the Colorado River they turned southwest, crossed the Mojave Desert and Sierra Madre Mountains, and headed to Los Angeles.
· After they have traced all four trails, fill in the map key with the color that corresponds to each trail. Keep their maps handy so you can use them for the next activity.