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Teacher's Guide for COBBLESTONE ® Lewis and Clark

April 2004

Teacher's Guide prepared by: Leslie Anderson Morales.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition known today as the Corps of Discovery. The journey began in 1804 and returned to St. Louis in September 1806. The team included explorers and pioneers. Discuss the factors that contributed to their success.

The ocean, outer space, and medicine remain "exciting frontiers" of exploration. Imagine that you are leading (or participating in) an exploration of one of these frontiers.
  • What would you call your team?
  • What is your team's mission?
  • How would you build team spirit (esprit de corps) and keep morale high?
Americans in the early 19th century held various beliefs about the geography of the western United States. The area between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean was unmapped. The expedition gave names to rivers, mountains, landmarks, prairies, and Indian villages. Many place names reflect events while others have connections to American Indians.
Examine a map of your home state.
Make a list of names and categorize them by origin i.e. "Events," "American Indians," and "Others."
Compare the lists.
  • What are your findings?
  • Is there a pattern?
  • How do you account for this?
Thomas Jefferson's vision was influenced by his scientific curiosity - he wanted to know about the "geography, plants, animals, and American Indian peoples." He also wanted the nation to expand its "agricultural and trade interests." He was actively involved in planning the expedition.
Identify a situation in which a leader's interests have influenced her decisions.
Write 3-5 paragraphs about the person, the interests, and the actions.
The Corps of Discovery encountered more than 50 Indian tribes as they traversed the continent. While many of the encounters were warm and friendly some were openly hostile. As the West was settled, the Indian people and the land suffered with many changes. Consequently, the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition is more often described as a commemoration instead of a celebration.
Suppose that a Lewis and Clark event is taking place at your school.
Your committee is responsible for planning a program and promoting the activity.
  • What do you think should be included on the program?
  • What will your committee call the event?
State your case and support your position.
NOTE: You can do this exercise as a group.
At age 16, Sacagawea was a wife and the mother of a 2-month son. She and her family traveled with the Corps of Discovery. Do you know any 16-year-olds? Would you travel thousands of miles through the wilderness with that person? How and why is the teenager you know different from Sacagawea?

When explorer William Clark's father, John, died on July 29, 1799, Clark received personal property including a slave named York. York was born in Caroline County, Virginia, in 1772 just as the American Revolution was breaking out. Although York participated in the expedition as a "full citizen," he was not granted his freedom until several years after their return.
What could have been some of the reasons William Clark continued to hold York in slavery?
Many books have been written about the expedition. More than one has told it from the point of view of Seaman the dog! Which point of view interests you? Write a poem or several pages describing an experience you had (or something you witnessed) during the journey.
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