Little House on the Praire: Post Civil War West Lesson Plan

Laura Ingalls Wilder is often considered one of America’s most beloved authors, renowned for documenting the American frontier through her Little House book series. Her writings can be considered some of the best fictional works exemplifying the post–Civil War period of the United States. In the wake of the Civil War, westward migration was inspired by technological developments and societal shifts. Despite immense progress for many, this era was also influenced by the displacement of Native Americans and discrimination against African Americans following emancipation.

This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to NCSS and Common Core Standards.

This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.

Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:

Knowledge

Identify and describe different experiences and developments as they relate to Post Civil War migration.
Discuss the importance of the Civil War on Westward Expansion after 1865.

2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis

Examine and closely read/analyze the Articles and Primary Resources.

3. Evaluation

Evaluate the themes explored throughout the Primary Sources, Articles and Video as they relate to the American West and the Little House series.

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Declaration of Independence Lesson Plan Teaching Guide

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Little House on the Prairie: Post-Civil War West Lesson Plan

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Declaration of Independence Lesson Plan Worksheet

Check out the Lesson Plan Teaching Guide for more instructions on using the prepared Lesson Plan.

Lesson Plan Activity:

Use the Lesson’s PowerPoint to explore the context and history; the PowerPoint introduces Essential Questions and lays foundational knowledge about the conflict.
Read the Article: History & Literature: The Little House Series
As a class, in groups, or individually, have the students read the Primary Sources.
Distribute the primary source worksheet
Have the students fill out the primary source worksheet; they can share some of the details that stood out to them with the class.

OPTIONAL HOMEWORK/ASSESSMENT/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Option 1: Experiences on the Frontier

Students can research individuals of differing backgrounds to evaluate how their experiences in the American West vary. What are the major differences between experiences? What do they have in common? Students can make a Venn diagram, write a short essay, or have a class discussion about their findings.

Option 2: Primary Source Tier List

Students can read and compare some of the primary documents. Have students imagine they are in the shoes of these individuals. What are the biggest challenges on the frontier? What solutions could you find for these challenges? Students can make a tier list, write a short essay, or have a class discussion about their findings.

Common Core State Standards- ELA & History/Social Studies

Grades 6-8

Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.5
  - Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.6
  - Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.8
  - Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.

Grades 9-10

Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1
  - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.3
  - Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.5
  - Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.8
  - Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.

Grades 11-12

Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.3
  - Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.5
  - Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.8
  - Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information.