Bedford County Public Schools
Lesson Planning Template
Lesson Topic: Western Expansion/Indian Wars
Date: 2/10/12
Objective: The student will… (keep SOL content and higher order/21st Century skills in mind)
SOL USII.4a:The student will demonstrate knowledge of
how life changed after the Civil War, by identifying the reasons for
Westward Expansion, including its impact on American Indians.
The students will create illustrations of important terms and events
that occurred during Westward Expansion and the Indian Wars.
Materials/Resources Needed:
 Smartboard/Powerpoint: List of important terms/events

CONSIDER
Bloom’s Levels 21st Century Skills
Recall
Critical Thinking
Understand
Problem Solving
Apply
Communication
Analyze
Collaboration
Evaluate
Creativity
Create
Innovation
Information
Literacy
Career Skills
Ipad: Doodle Pad App
Prerequisite Skills/Prior Knowledge Required:
Students will use notes and activities to gain an understanding of important terms, and
events that took place during Westward Expansion and the Indian Wars.
Lesson Introduction/”Hook”:
Prepare students for this activity by asking them to write a journal entry in response to
the following situation.
Imagine you had been living in the same house or town your entire life. Many of
your family members lived nearby, and would often get together for family gatherings and
holidays. You love your home and spending time with family and friends. Imagine a new
group of people came to town. They do not speak your language or share the same cultural
values, but have told you and your family that you must pack what you can and leave your
home. What types of things would you be feeling? What reactions would you have? How
would you respond to this new group?
Have students share their journal entries with the class, and then remind students that
this situation is quite similar to the treatment of American Indians by the white man
during Westward Expansion.
Activities To Present New Information/Skills:
Students will have been given notes, and important vocabulary to help them prepare prior
to this lesson.
Independent/Group Practice or Application:
Students will be shown a list of important terms or events. Students
CONSIDER
- Are activities differentiated for
specific need-based groups?
- How is technology used?
- Real world relevance?
may choose an event or term to illustrate in Doodle Pad on the Ipad.
Students will work in pairs to determine what term or event, the other student has
illustrated. Once each student has identified the term or event, they may save their work,
and move on to another one. Students should save their work, so that can choose their
two best illustrations to share with the class.
Assessment of Understanding: (tied to objective)
Students will be assessed through visual observation from the teacher.
Students can show their understanding of terms and events through
CONSIDER
- Are assessments varied in format
and accessible to all students?
- Do assessments address the full
objective , not just basic content
knowledge?
their illustrations. Students will be given a completion grade on this assignment, once the
teacher has seen that they have created an illustration.
Notes for Upcoming Lessons:
What worked?

Students were engaged, and working cooperatively.

Students enjoyed using the Doodle Pad app, and were excited to be working
with technology.

Students were able to use creativity to illustrate their terms and events.

Students were able to show their understanding through illustrations.
What will you change next time you teach this?

Give students a specific number of terms and events to illustrate, giving
more structure to the class.

Allow specific time for drawing then sharing, again this lesson can get out of
hand if timing is not specifically structured.