Lesson Plan

"We Proceeded On..."

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Math,Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
Thinking Skills:
Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

What information can a map tell us?

How can you use a map to determine the length of a trip?

Objective

Students will be able to: 
• Identify different types of maps and the kinds of information they contain
• Locate Fort Clatsop on a map handout
• Find a route from Portland, Oregon or their town to Fort Clatsop.

Background

Most of the route traveled by the members of the Corps of Discovery had not been mapped before and was completely new to them. Because Captain William Clark had surveying experience, he was the mapmaker of the group. He used his skills to create detailed maps of all the territory through which the Corps of Discovery traveled. When the information was made available to the public, it “opened” the west to anyone willing to attempt this difficult river route.           

Today, very detailed maps of the entire United States are available providing various information, such as, where roads lead, topography or the physical features of land, rock and soil types, what kinds of plants grow where, etc. Road maps show towns and special features and can be used to figure out mileage between points or to plan a trip around any country.

Preparation

Materials needed: 
 

  • Handout “We Proceeded On..”
  • Student journals
  • Several stopwatches
  • Road map of Oregon and if you are traveling from another state a map of that state also.
  • Map to Fort Clatsop from the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park brochure
  • Any other types of maps, such as geologic, topographic, road, soil, etc.
  • For maps also check on the internet or with local public libraries, university extension offices, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Geologic Survey, parks, chambers of commerce or camping stores.
  • Optional: Make an overhead transparency of the map handout.

Materials

Download We Proceeded On

Procedure

1. Students may work in pairs or individually. Post road and other types of maps around the room. Label each map with a number and have students write down in their journals what information is given by each type of map. Review answers with students and discuss how and why each map is valuable. 

2. Have students concentrate on the road map of Oregon or Washington. With your students, discuss what information is on a road map.

3. Provide the students with a copy of the handout “We Proceeded On...” and have them complete it.

  • Next have the students find the town your school’s located in on the map—if your school is from outside the area on the handout, use Portland, OR.
  • Then, from your hometown or Portland, have students find a route to Fort Clatsop marking the route with a crayon or marker. 
4. Assign pairs or small groups of students to use state road maps to prepare for a trip to Fort Clatsop by finding the following information:
  • Determine the mileage from your school to Fort Clatsop
  • Calculate how long it would take to reach Fort Clatsop if a bus traveled a constant 50 mph
  • Calculate the amount of diesel fuel the school bus would use on the round trip (find the miles per gallon (mpg) from a bus driver or use 10 mpg)
  • Calculate the cost of diesel fuel for round trip (use current average fuel price.)
5. Have the students calculate how long it would take to walk to Fort Clatsop from your hometown. With a stopwatch, time the student walking a known distance such as one lap around a track—it’s not necessary for each student to have their own time—a time for the group should be sufficient.
  • If the students take 5 minutes to walk one lap—and your track equals 1/4 mile, then calculate 20 minutes per mile.
  • If your school is a long distance from Fort Clatsop and it would take days for them to walk to Fort Clatsop, have them decide what they would need to have with them or need to know in order to survive the trip.
  • Discuss how difficult it must have been for the members of the Corps of Discovery to plan how to cross unknown territory.

Assessment Materials

Discuss the following with students:

  • What direction is Fort Clatsop from your school?
  • How different it is today to travel long distances than it was in Lewis and Clark’s time.
  • What are the highway numbers on the route they decided to use to travel to Fort Clatsop? Are there any other routes they could have taken? 

Contact Information

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Tags: fort clatsop lewis and clark lewis and clark expedition math lesson plan math map activity map maps

Last updated: October 24, 2023