Lewis and Clark

You are a member of the Corps of Discovery led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. President Thomas Jefferson has assigned the Corps the task of seeking a river route from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. In the process of seeking this route, you will explore the recently purchased Louisiana Territory. Your team will encounter wildlife and native tribes seen by few white people. It will be your job to communicate to the president about the geography and the plant and animal life of the North American continent. You must speculate on the country's economic future in trade with the Orient by way of the Northwest Passage. You also must explore the possibilities of fur trade with the native tribes. You must provide for the needs of the party on their journey and return them safely to St. Louis.

The Task
You will choose a role as a member of the Corps of Discovery. In that role you will gather information to inform the president about one of the following areas:

•Geography
•Native tribes
•Plants and animals
•Supplies required for the journey

In addition to your individual report, your team will work together to compose a cover letter to President Thomas Jefferson informing him of the success of your exploration in

•Finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean
•Economic opportunities in the region

Resources
All members of the team will access the following Web sites :

•The History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition follows the travelers from the beginning of their journey to the end.
•Circa 1803 provides information about the historical setting in which the trip took place.
•PBS Online: Lewis and Clark provides abundant materials about the men and their journey.

If you are the cartographer, you should access this site:

•Discovering Lewis and Clark shows the routes followed by the Corps of Discovery.

If you are the diplomat, you should read several of the entries in the following sites:

•The Native Americans deals with each tribe encountered on the expedition.
•Lewis and Clark Expedition. Diary entries tell how the tribes interacted with the Corps of Discovery.

If you are the naturalist, you should access the following sites:

•The Animal Diversity Web is a collection of pictures and information about animals. Information is arranged in taxonomic heirarchy.
•Lewis and Clark Expedition has a scientific section dealing with animals, plants and earth science.
•CalPhotos: California Plants and Habitats contains over 11,000 images of California plants and fungi. It can be searched by common name, scientific name or family name.

If you are the quartermaster, you should access the following site:

•To Equip an Expedition provides a partial list of supplies Lewis and Clark took on the expedition.

The Process
I. Each member of the team should choose a role from the following list:

•Cartographer: one who makes maps
•Diplomat: a representative of a nation in another land with the duty of looking after the interests of their own nation
•Naturalist: one who makes a study of plants and animals
•Quartermaster: an officer who has charge of providing supplies

II. Depending upon your role, the following information will be required:

•Cartographer

•On a map of the United States, draw the route taken to the Pacific Ocean and the return route.
•Label the Great Falls of the Missouri.
•Label the three winter camps.
•Draw the north and south forks of the Missouri River.
•Draw and label two other rivers feeding into the Missouri River.
•Label the Continental Divide. Discuss its significance in your report.
•Label the Lolo Trail. Discuss its significance in your report.
•In your report tell the total mileage of the trip.

•Diplomat

•Compare and contrast the cultures of two native tribes. Tell what you did to communicate the United States' sovriegnty in the region to two different tribes. (Use Inspiration for this activity)
•Name two tribes that you think would enter into exclusive fur trade with the United States. What evidence makes you think they are willing to have friendly relations?
•Name two tribes that you think will resist entering into exclusive fur trade with the United States. What evidence makes you think they are unwilling to have friendly relations?

•Naturalist

•Provide a picture of one plant unknown east of the Mississippi River in 1803. Tell where you found the plant. Label the plant with its scientific name, giving the family and the species.
•Provide a picture of one animal unknown east of the Mississippi River in 1803. Tell where you found the animal. Label the animal with the scientific name of the species. Tell the taxonomic process you followed to determine the name.
•Provide a picture of a form of animal life unseen by any other humans. This will be a creature of your imagination.
•Use a taxonomic key to correctly name the creature. Explain the steps you followed working through the taxonomic key to determine the name of the species. (Use Inspiration for this activity)
•Tell where you found the creature. Describe its environment and tell how it is suited for life in that environment.

•Quartermaster

•List at least six supplies you purchased before the expedition began. Tell why you anticipated needing them. (Use Inspiration for this activity)
•Tell how you provided at least three different kinds of food that you could not carry with you. Give detailed explanations regarding where you were and how the food was obtained.
•Give detailed explanations regarding how you preserved food for later use.
•Tell of at least three different medical conditions requiring treatment. Tell what treatments were administered and to whom.
•Tell how you got the necessary materials for the treatments.

III. Once you have completed your individual report, work with the other members of your team to:

•Write a letter to President Jefferson. Tell him whether you were successful in finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Tell him whether the route you followed could be used to open trade in the Louisiana Territory. All members of the team should sign the letter.
•Compare and contrast Lewis and Clark by identifying their unique contributions to the expedition. What were their weaknesses? What characteristics contributed to the success of their shared leadership of the expedition? (Use Inspiration for this activity)

Evaluation
You will receive an individual grade on your work in the role you selected. You must address each point listed under your role. Accuracy and completeness of information, including visual aids, will count 70%. Writing, including spelling, punctuation, capitalization and other mechanics, will count 30%. You will receive a team grade on the letter you write to President Jefferson (Your conclusions must be consistent with those actually reached in 1806) and the comparison/contrast of Lewis and Clark.

Conclusion
You have explored a period in our country's history that marked a turning point in settlement and economic opportunity. You have learned how geographic factors influenced the development of our nation. To learn more about this topic, access Discovering Lewis and Clark.

Documentation
For instructions on documenting Internet sources, refer to Citation Maker.

Based on an activity created by Susan Frederick