For Educators: Teaching Units & Lesson Plans:

Mapping

Lesson Plan 1: Expedition's Purpose

OBJECTIVES

Students will:

• know the expedition's goals as defined by Jefferson in his instructions to Lewis
• know that historical documents and maps are primary sources on which our interpretation of the past is partially based
• analyze a historic document for the purpose of determining the writer's intent or purpose

MATERIALS

OPENING

After students have been introduced to the "basics" of the expedition (in a previous lesson), introduce the unit, its Major Understanding, its Essential Questions, and its Culminating Performance Assessment (see Culminating Performance Assessment: You're the Mapmaker).

Then turn to the question of purpose: Why were Lewis and Clark undertaking this expedition? Elicit from the class their current understanding of the expedition's purpose, and record answers on the board or chart paper for future reference.

Tell students that in January 1803, President Jefferson sent a message to Congress describing the expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory and asking for congressional approval. Congress passed legislation to fund the expedition. In June 1803, President Jefferson sent instructions to Meriwether Lewis in the form of a letter. Tell students that today they are going to study this set of instructions.

Introduce the online image of Jefferson's letter of instructions to Lewis. Do not attempt to read the document in detail, but draw attention to a few details, such as the fact that the letter is handwritten, has spelling mistakes, etc.

PROCEDURE

1. Hand out activity sheet "Jefferson's Instructions to Meriwether Lewis with Key Vocabulary and Guiding Questions." Working as a class or in small groups, have students summarize the sections by writing the goals in the space provided. Note: the expedition had multiple interconnected purposes that can be summarized under three broad headings: a) political, b) economic/commercial, and c) scientific. See "Notes to Teachers on Goals of the Expedition" for more information.
2. Focus on the need for finding and mapping a route across the continent. Tell students that for the next several days they are going to be studying historic maps that will provide insight into the time period and the people who made them.

CLOSING

Assign a map activity as homework. Hand out activity sheet "Creating a Map of Your Neighborhood." The assignment's directions are intentionally vague. Do not specify materials to use. Avoid giving directions concerning the organization of the map such as a title, a key or legend, a compass rose, color coding, etc. Tell students that in the next class they will be sharing their maps.

In future lessons students will be referring to these maps, as they investigate American Indian maps and Euro-American maps of the period.