Choose Your Own Adventure: Westward Expansion

Submitted by: Candice Royall
Collaborators: Michael Renfroe
School: Pocahontas Middle School

Summary

Students will be divided into groups to go on a virtual adventure during the era of Westward Expansion. Using iPads and QR codes, each group will navigate through 4 different stations answering questions related to the particular topic assigned to their group (Farmers, African Americans, Gold Rushers, and Lewis & Clark’s Crew). Questions consist of videos, readings, and photo/map analyses. When students answer correctly, they will be directed to their next stop on their adventure; however, if they answer incorrectly, they will be directed to the “Road Block” where they will have to answer another generic question about Westward Expansion to move forward. At the end, each group will share what they learned on their adventure out west!

TIPC Ratings

Students will be viewing videos, reading information from websites, and analyzing pictures and maps to answer questions on this topic.

Students are divided into 4 groups and will work together to complete this adventure. They must agree on which choice is correct before they move forward on their journey. Each group must also present what they learned on their adventure to the class.

Students will be required to answer questions about what they have learned/researched in order to move forward. The questions are on the higher end of the Bloom’s Taxonomy spectrum.

Using iPads and QR codes in this lesson makes it even more engaging to students. The inspiration for this activity was the old Oregon Trail game…this is a modern version using modern technology.

Student Artifact

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