Lesson Plan

The Journey of Sacagawea

Main Subject Area: Social Studies

Additional Subjects: Language Arts

Duration of Lesson:  90 minutes

Keywords:

• Golden Dollar
• Historical Figures
• Journal Writing
• Lewis and Clark
• Sacagawea

Brief Description:

Students will examine the life of Sacagawea, the exceptional woman chosen to appear on the Golden Dollar, and will write journal entries based on their research.

National Standard(s):

• Culture
• Time, Continuity, and Change
• People, Places, and Environment

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

• Demonstrate competence in the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing

Objectives:

Students will learn about the story of Sacagawea.

Students will learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Students will practice journal writing.

Materials (online):

POMP The True Story of the Baby on the Sacagawea Dollar, Chapters 1 and 2 - http://pompstory.home.mindspring.com/index.html

Materials (offline):

Writing paper

Drawing Paper

Pencils

Colored Pencils or Crayons

Coins Used in Lesson:

Sacagawea Golden Dollar

Grade Level(s):   3-5  

Procedures (online):

Retrieve a copy of "POMP The True Story of the Baby on the Sacagawea Dollar, Chapters 1 and 2" from the Web site listed under Materials/Resources.

If possible, students should read this story online, and then conduct research on Sacagawea using the Internet.

Procedures (offline):

1. Show your students the new gold Sacagawea Dollar.

2. Create a K-W-L chart to record what your students know, and what they'd like to know about Sacagawea. Display this chart for all students to see.

3. Have the students read chapters 1 and 2 of POMP The True Story of the Baby on the Sacagawea Dollar. Students can read the story aloud or in groups.

4. Tell the students they will get to imagine what it would be like to be Sacagawea on her journey. They will create a journal that she could have written. In their journal they should include as many dates and descriptions of what they (Sacagawea) see, as possible. The students can do additional research besides reading the story online to find out facts about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They should also include sketches or pictures.

5. Student can bind their journals and share it with others.

Assessment / Evaluation:

Students should be evaluated based on the facts and descriptions included in their journal.

Differentiated Learning Options:

Students can write about how Sacagawea might feel today having her image on a coin.