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 Lewis & Clark Expedition Series Lesson #1-Resources The Captains of the NH Corps of Discovery (a.k.a. Rydant and Jobin) asked Sgts. Ordway (a.k.a. Miller) and Gass (a.k.a. Havill) to develop five lesson plans relating to Lewis and Clark. These plans will be featured in NHGA newsletters. Captain Jobin suggested that a list of resources, annotated where possible, would be an excellent point of departure for this great adventure. Hence, we submit the following. Respectfully, INTRODUCTION: The new nation was now the owner of territory that would almost double its size. What was this territory like? What resources did it have? What was the cultural landscape like? Was the Northwest Passage now part of our nation? If so, our control made our young nation a new World power! These were questions that were to be handed in 1804 to Merriwether Lewis and William Clark by President Jefferson. The Lewis and Clark expeditions provide teachers with an excellent opportunity to utilize history and literature to work on the geographical challenges with their students. The "Expedition of Discovery" was unique in that the participants ventured into a landscape they had very little understanding of. The "mental maps" of many Americans at that time would make an interesting study on its own. The New Hampshire Geographic Alliance would like to take the opportunity to present teachers with an annotated list of resources to build a strong base form which to work lesson plan ideas. In future mailings, ideas for mapping skills, using literature, and working with expedition journals to teach about the "physical and cultural places" in the new territory will be offered. Teacher Consultants are encouraged to offer ideas and additional resources.
OTHER RESOURCES/SITES: 1. The Bicentennial Coordinator has the memorandum of understanding among various agencies, plus a list of federal agencies.
2. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission This agency produced a very small handout called "Lewis and Clark in Washington State." It outlines the Lewis and Clark journey across the state and notes 'points of interest' along the way. BOOKS Although this is John Logan Allen's Ph.D. dissertation, it is "..... a splendidly researched and highly readable treatment of a difficult subject. ....it is much more than just another Lewis and Clark book" (Donald Jackson). The work retraces the journey of Lewis and Clark. It contains 45 maps including a copy of the 1803 King map of western North America. Perhaps its strongest point is comparing what we thought was out there to the realities Lewis and Clark encountered. Although this book is about Merriwether Lewis, it revisits the whole of the Lewis and Clark mission to learn the nature of the Louisiana Purchase. As one critic put it ".... it reads like a novel". This chapter is a brief description of Lewis and Clark's journey from St. Louis, Missouri to the Clearwater Valley in Idaho. It emphasizes the nature of the river, varied ecological vegetation, and wildlife changes enroute. Important sites such as Great Falls, Gates of the Mountains, Three Forks and Lolo pass are highlighted. [The map entitled "Lewis and Clark in the Rocky Mountains." would be an excellent supplement to the chapter. The map is available from NHGA.] See pages 383-432 for background events which led to the purchase of Louisiana. See pages 435-553 for summary of Lewis and Clark's journey across America. Among observations there is information on varous rivers and Native American groups. If any of you are thinking about following all or parts of the Lewis and Clark trail, you are well advised to obtain a copy of this book. Sgt. Gass checked parts of it, with which he is familiar, and found it to be superb. Stephen Ambrose also endorses it! This is Heat-Moon's account of his travels from New York City to the Pacific Ocean by a small boat and a canoe. From page 191 to the end of the book, he follows the trail of Lewis and Clark describing things on and along the course. It might be interesting to compare his observations with those of Lewis and Clark on a portion of the journey, noting changes which have occurred over the past 200 years. See page 242-242 for an example. This text is a readable account of President Jefferson's interest in the native American culture as well as an account of Lewis and Clark's encounters. Chapters on the Teton Sioux, Mandan, Arikara, and Claptsop are strong in content. Student could be assigned readings to help with the understanding of how the native peoples were involved in the movement of trade goods. OTHER RESOURCES For more information and materials write directly to: Point of Interest: Lemhi Pass Lewis and Clark in Beaverhead County Montana. 12 pp. w/map. Point of Interest: Lost Trail Pass Point of Interest: Lolo Trail |
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