Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark

In this lesson, students will watch or listen to the descriptions of the environment that Lewis and Clark recorded as they traversed across North America. Their documentation was highly descriptive and gave the United States a glimpse into what the future might hold with the recently acquired Louisiana Territory. Their journey also brought disappointment as it was discovered that there was not an all-water passage across the continent.

Using these descriptions, students will practice analyzing primary sources for detail, while they imagine what the environment was like from Lewis and Clark’s perspective. Additionally, students will think critically about what these new environments might mean for the future of the United States and its people.