Starting this week, students will create a mental map of the United States west of the Appalachian Mountains.  This will help students visualize how our nation expanded as Americans moved west.  Students will be able to define the term "Manifest Destiny", which many settlers used to justify claiming western lands - lands that were also occupied by Native Americans.
In addition to learning how the United States acquired land west of the Mississippi River, we will examine this movement from the point of view of Native Americans.  What a great way to build on social studies knowledge from last year's curriculum!