Suggested Activities
for Lewis and Clark Studies
ACTIVITY A
Thomas Jefferson gave Captain Meriwether Lewis a detailed list
of things he wanted Lewis and the Expedition to ascertain during
their journey. As the explorers traveled across the continent,
they encountered a number of new regions formerly unknown to Thomas
Jefferson and others living on the East Coast. Thomas Jefferson
asked for the following information to be found and recorded.
Refer to Jefferson's Instructions
to Lewis and have your students identify or locate:
- Regions on map
- Plants and Animals unique to region
- Native Americans
- Names of the tribes
- Traditions
- Occupations
- Food and clothing
- Shelter
- Natural resources
- Climate
ACTIVITY B
Ask students the question: "If you had been chosen to join the
Expedition, what would you have thought essential to pack?" Have
students compare Lewis's list with their own. Refer to Capt.
Lewis's packing list.
ACTIVITY C
Thomas Jefferson required members of the Expedition to keep accurate
and detailed journals. Have your students keep a journal recording
their daily activities.
ACTIVITY D
Lewis had planned to bring a theodolite on the journey in order
to survey land and help with mapping. Upon further consideration,
he concluded that it was too heavy an instrument and decided to
use a sextant instead. Contact a local surveyor in your community
and have him/her talk to your class about surveying and map-making.
ACTIVITY E
Have students research the importance of buffalo to Native American
people and have students create masks of buffalo or other animals
of the Great Plains.
ACTIVITY F
Native American tribes were very important to the Expedition.
Have students write a report or give a presentation on how these
tribes are active and viable today.
ACTIVITY G
Have students write a letter to Thomas Jefferson describing in
detail three things found in their immediate surroundings that
would be unknown to him.
ACTIVITY H
What would students choose to send to Jefferson as examples of
their current culture that he would not have seen before? Refer
to the Fort Mandan Packing List.
ACTIVITY I
Lead a discussion with students about the challenges encountered
by the members of the Expedition. Possible topics might be:
- Physical and mental strain
- Long arduous journey
- Separation from family and friends
- Geographical challenges
- Traveling up river
- Great Falls of the Missouri River
- Mountains, Continental Divide
- Extreme weather conditions
- Wild animals
- Prickly pear cactus underfoot
- Lots of mosquitoes.
ACTIVITY J
Lewis and Clark sent back numerous samples of pressed flowers
and plants unknown to Thomas Jefferson. Have your students
create a botanical (a notebook of pressed flowers) made up
of flowers or plants found in your region. Have students properly
identify the specimen by name (Latin and common) and have
them measure the plants.
ACTIVITY K
Lead a discussion on what students think were the major contributions
of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
ACTIVITY L
Have students create a newspaper on their experiences as members
of the Expedition. Don't forget to include artwork. Possible article
topics: Indian people encountered, difficulties along the trail
(Great Falls, prickley pear cactus, mosquitoes, lack of food,
grizzly bears, etc.), and highlights of the trip.