Central Connecticut State University
Department of Teacher Education
Name: Olivia Hornberger
Date: September 16, 2013
Grade: 8th Grade History
School: CCSU
Classroom Teacher: Professor Brown
Title of Lesson: Manifest Destiny and the Events of American Westward
Expansion
Content Standards:
Lesson Outline
CT Social Studies Framework – Grade 8 – 1.1 Significant events and themes in
United States history
Evaluate the impact of the theme Manifest Destiny by researching an event
during American Westward Expansion
CT Social Studies Framework – Grade 8 – 2.5 Create and present relevant
social studies materials using both print and electronic media
Students will use the Internet and technology to further research an event of
their choice and to present their knowledge
Technology Standards:
ISTE – 3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: b.
Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media
ISTE - 6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and
operations. Students: d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new
technologies
Student Learning Objective(s):
Using textbooks and conducting online research using a selection of online
databases and media, students will use their creativity and knowledge to produce a
presentation using Prezi that explains an event during American Westward
Expansion and evaluate how it relates to the main theme of Manifest Destiny. Prezi
is a Web 2.0 tool that will be introduced and serve as an outlet for students to
demonstrate their ability to use and interpret information from their research as
well as their ability to learn new technology concepts and systems.
 Communicate an idea or thing (event) in a new or different form (translation)
 See relationships among things or events (associations)
 Make judgments about events based on internal and external criteria
Assessment:
 Students will create a presentation using Web 2.0 Tool, Prezi, during class
time in the computer lab.
 Students will be provided with a grading rubric. Students will be graded on
the content of their Prezi, research skill assessment, their presentation,
ability to learn new technology system Prezi, and their ability to correlate the
theme of Manifest Destiny to their chosen event/topic.
Materials and Resources:
Students will use their class notes, textbooks, and classroom monographs as well as
the internet to research their event.
Spreadsheet: I will create a spreadsheet populations of western states during the
expansion of frontier to enhance students understanding of the effect of the theme
Manifest Destiny. This will be used during the introductory lecture.
VoiceThread: A three slide VoiceThread will be used as an activity for students to
complete to practice their effective researching skills and to also introduce them to
events during the expansion of the West.
Google Earth: I will also be using Google Earth during the introductory lecture to
introduce students and spark their interest in a portion of the events during
Westward Expansion that they could potentially use as a topic for their Prezi. The
place marks I will be using on Google Earth will represent the broad characteristics
of Westward Expansion including political, economic, culture, and the treatment of
the Native Americans. Google Earth will be a great way to immerse students into
the time period and feel as though they are a westerner themselves traveling the
frontier with the use of images, audio, video, and hyperlinks. It will also allow
students to decide what aspect they would like to study in their own research for
their Prezi.
Web 2.0 Tool: Prezi
A way to bring boring presentations to life using any type of information you would
normally present in PowerPoint or overheads by creating and presenting ideas on a
large virtual canvas like a whiteboard instead of traditional slides. Students can
easily arrange YouTube videos, images, hyperlinks, and paragraphs they compose in
a natural flow to present their knowledge and ideas.
www.prezi.com
Bubbl.us : A tool students are very familiar with will be their graphic organizer tool
to generate brainstorming and serve as a mind map for their Prezi
Students will be required to use a Youtube video, a map, and an image from the
Internet
Smartboard for 1.) Introductory lesson: Learning Manifest Destiny and 2.) To
perform a demo on how to create an account and assemble a presentation on Prezi
since students will be using the tool for their first time
Computer Lab for student research and producing a Prezi: each student will need an
individual computer
Initiation:
You will be engaging in an independent mini-project to demonstrate your
understanding of the theme Manifest Destiny by researching an event/topic/person
that occurred on the western frontier during American Westward Expansion. Using
your knowledge from class notes, books, and researching the Internet at the
computer lab (along with your creativity) you will create a Prezi to present to the
class on Presentation Day. A Prezi is a fun new way to present your knowledge. Do
not worry! I will show you each step on how to use this new tool in order to create a
meaningful and interesting presentation to show your fellow classmates and myself.
Lesson Development:
 This lesson will be a week long to provide students with background
information and lecture.
 Students will first be introduced to the theme of Manifest Destiny that
motivated Americans to move westward beginning with an explanation and
analysis of John Gast’s 1872 painting American Progress
 I will provide the spreadsheet for students to look at and analyze to expose
them to the increasing number of American westerners during the era of
Westward expansion in order to show how affective Manifest Destiny was on
persuading Americans to move west.
 I will briefly introduce students to events/topics that they will take notes on
and will later further research one of their choices for their Prezi
presentations.
 I will include a lecture on how to conduct reliable, trustworthy research
 After learning effective methods of research, I will give my students a short 3
slide VoiceThread activity to allow them to practice researching before they
choose their topic.
 Using Google Earth I will present five place marks of events representing the
politics, economics, culture, and treatment of the Native Americans during
Western Expansion. This will not only show students there is a wide variety
of events to choose for their Prezi but will also immerse them in the time
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period before they begin their research and make it easier to choose an
event.
Topics include: Thomas Jefferson, Agrarian Republic, Yeoman Farmer, The
Northwest Ordinance, The Fur Trade, Louisiana Purchase, Lewis & Clark
Expedition, Stephen Long, Indian Removal, Trail of Tears, Oregon Trail,
Marcus & Narcissa Whitman, Missouri Compromise, The Mexican War,
California Gold Rush, Treaty of Fort Laramie, Homestead Act,
Transcontinental Railroad, Sand Creek Massacre, Fetterman Massacre, The
Cowboy, The Black Hills, Dawes Act, Battle of Little Bighorn, Wounded Knee
Three classes will be held in the computer lab for students to conduct
research, brainstorm with bubbl.us, and put together their presentations
using Prezi
Students will be given a rubric to see what is required in their Prezi
I will show an example of a former student’s Prezi so students can become
excited about their presentations
We will then have presentation day
Closure:
For homework, after presentation day, students will reflect on a classmate’s
presentation they found interesting.