LEWIS & CLARK STUDENT GUIDE. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. A Simulation of the Corps of Discovery. Dear Clark,

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1 LEWIS & CLARK A Simulation of the Corps of Discovery STUDENT GUIDE Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Dear Clark, From the long and uninterrupted friendship and confidence which has subsisted between us I feel no hesitation in making to you the following communication... My plan is to descend the Ohio in a keeled boat thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Missourie, and up that river as far as it s navigation is practicable with a keeled boat, there to prepare canoes of bark or raw-hides, and proceed to it s source, [the Missouri s] and if practicable pass over to the waters of the Columbia or Origan River and by descending it reach the Western Ocean... Thus my friend you have a summary view of the plan, the means and the objects of this expedition. If therefore there is anything under those circumstances, in this enterprise, which would induce you participate with me in it s fatiegues, it s dangers and it s honors, believe me there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharing them as with yourself. Meriwether Lewis Product Code: INT Interact Order Direct:

2 E X P E D I T I O N P R E P A R A T I O N Introduction In LEWIS AND CLARK, you and your classmates become members of a cooperative group, or a Corps. Your challenge is to travel across the United States following the same route that the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery took on their journey to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1800s. Each member of your Corps will have a different job each Expedition Day. You and your teammates must complete certain tasks each day to earn Expedition Cards. These cards enable you to move ahead in your journey through the uncharted Northwest wilderness. Lewis and Clark s actual journey started at Camp Wood, Illinois. However, Fort Mandan is the beginning of uncharted territory, so that is where your Corps adventure begins! The Race Your goal is to be the first Corps to reach the Pacific Ocean and Fort Clatsop. You must follow the same route that Lewis and Clark traveled. In the classroom, there is a large map of the route of Lewis and Clark s expedition. In this unit, you will begin your journey at Fort Mandan. Lewis and Clark had ideas about what lay ahead, but they did not know for sure; neither do you and your fellow Corps members! Daily Goals The Corps of Discovery succeeded because Lewis and Clark chose fellow explorers of great determination who set goals and strove to achieve them. All Corps members had specific skills and talents that corresponded with their specific responsibilities. Without each of the members individual expertise, the entire Corps would have perished. How you complete your daily responsibilities significantly impacts your success in the simulation. Daily Dilemmas Each Expedition day you and your fellow Corps members receive a specific Dilemma from your teacher. These problems are modeled after the same experiences Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery faced. Although many things could have gone wrong, remarkably, Lewis and Clark made decisions that ultimately proved successful. It is important to know that the Corps members followed Lewis and Clark s decisions whether they agreed with them or not, and many times they did not. Your Corps will function the same way. Each member will discuss the Daily Dilemma and share his or her ideas for a solution. The Journal Writer then researches the real solution and writes an entry in the Corps journal that tells the solution and the group decision-making process. If your Corps cannot agree on the solution, the Captain has the final say. Cooperation You and your fellow Corps members depend on each other for a successful Expedition. Several factors will affect your progress. It is essential for everyone to understand the procedures of the simulation and the expectations set by your teacher. Carefully study this Student Guide and refer to it as needed throughout the Expedition. 2 Lewis and Clark Student Guide INTERACT Order Direct: Interact

3 E X P E D I T I O N P R E P A R A T I O N Selecting Roles To begin the simulation, each Corps selects a Captain, an Interpreter, and a Journal Writer. The remaining members are Privates. Each role has specific responsibilities to fulfill in order for the Corps to progress in the simulation. Each Expedition day the responsibilities rotate. The Captain is responsible for moving all names down the Log for that day. Corps that do not follow this rule will be penalized with a Penalty Card. The Captain may only reassign Corps members duties when a student is absent. Advancing Your Corps Record the miles described on the Expediton and Penalty Cards on your Captain s Log before moving your pirogue along the map. The Captain must receive permission from your teacher before moving the pirogue. Just like in the real expedition, hard work at your assigned job and good luck (in the form of Expedition Cards) allow your Corps to move along the river towards your goal. Expedition Cards Your teacher evaluates the tasks, journal, logs, and letters, and awards Expedition Cards for work well done. You receive the cards on the Expedtion day after you competed the work. These cards tell you how many miles your Corps advances towards the Pacific and Fort Clatsop. Penalty Cards Any student who is not working efficiently, respectfully, and cooperatively may cause his or her Corps to receive a Penalty Card. These cards tell you how far backwards your Corps moves. Dealing With Conflict The Captain has the final say if any disagreements arise. Problems withing a Corps could result in a Penalty Card. Earning Bonuses Resources that you bring in to enhance this unit earn your Corps further progress on your Expedition. Helpful, historical resources may include: books, videos, encyclopedias, website addresses, magazines, bibliographies, or newspaper articles. Also, if your Journal Writer includes special vocabulary words in the journal entry you may earn a Bonus Expedition Card. Finally, any above and beyond work might be rewarded with an additional Expedition Card. Special vocabulary words come from the glossary or your Vocabulary Voyage assignment. Winning the Simulation The first Corps to reach the Pacific Ocean wins. If time allows, the Corps may begin the return journey and choose which route to take: either the route of Meriwether Lewis or that of William Clark Interact Order Direct: INTERACT Lewis and Clark Student Guide 3

4 R O L E S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S THE CAPTAIN One of the captains of the Corps of Discovery was William Clark. He was a skilled cartographer. He drew an important map that contained all the new information he gathered from the Native Americans on the expedition to the Pacific. Although the map contained many inaccuracies, it was the first one that charted the areas between the upper Mississippi River and the Missouri River and the major tributaries of the lower and middle Missouri. The main responsibilities of the Captain are to correctly complete and maintain the CAPTAIN S LOG and LEWIS AND CLARK MAP and to manage the Corps, assisting with any problems. Each day the Captain must: Rotate Role Assignments Move names of each Corps member down the LOG and announce the new roles for the day Remind Corps members of the responsibilities of each job Read and Tally Expedition and Penalty Cards Draw correct number of cards, earned in previous day s work Read and discuss scenarios on cards with fellow Corps members Calculate total mileage from all cards and record on the CAPTAIN S LOG Update Location of Corps With new total mileage, move appropriate distance on Corps LEWIS AND CLARK MAP (with coloring marker) and large Classroom Map with Pirogue Find latitude and longitude of new location; record on CAPTAIN S LOG Problem-Solve Help resolve any conflicts or problems in your Corps Lead discussion of Daily Dilemma; make final decision if Corps does not all agree Manage Your Corps Help other members of Corps with their jobs when needed Encourage cooperation Expedition Card If all of these responsibilities are carried out, your Corps will receive one Expedition Card. 4 Lewis and Clark Student Guide INTERACT Order Direct: Interact

5 R O L E S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S THE JOURNAL WRITER Many members of the Corps of Discovery kept journals. only tale of the great North American continent west of the Mississippi. The main responsibility of the Journal Writer is to record the response to the Daily Dilemma in the Corps Journal. for assessing the journal, based on the following expectations: The captains and their men were the writingest explorers of their time. They wrote constantly and abundantly, afloat or ashore, legibly and illegibly, and always with an urgent sense of purpose. Donald Jackson, Historian Discuss Daily Dilemma When listening to the Daily Dilemma, take notes on the main points and write the question(s) your Corps must answer In the time given by your teacher, discuss the Dilemma with your Corps Record the thoughts and ideas of your Corps members Decide what you and your Corps would do in this situation If the Corps cannot agree on a solution, the Captain has the final say Use creative and descriptive writing Record Corps Solution After the Corps discussion and decision, record both your thoughts and feelings about the Corps decision and your Corps final solution If you do not agree with the Corps decision, write about your reasons for disagreeing Research the Dilemma Since these Daily Dilemmas are real scenarios Lewis and Clark faced, there is one right answer! Research this using classroom resources. Record the decision Lewis and Clark made and any information ab out the outcome of their decision Compare your Corps decision with Lewis and Clark s decision Write with Detailed Description Use your best writing skills to record the four parts of your respons e: Your Corps solution to Dilemma Your thoughts about the group process Lewis and Clark s decision Comparison of your Corps solution with Lewis and Clark s Expedition Card The journal entry will be evaluated for content, effort, and creativity. Expect to spend a fair amount of time completing the journal entry. You must use complete sentences. A correct response to the Daily Dilemma in a well-written journal entry earns one Expedition Card Interact Order Direct: INTERACT Lewis and Clark Student Guide 5

6 R O L E S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S THE INTERPRETER During the journey, the Corps of Discovery came in contact with over 50 Native American tribes, many of whom became friends with Lewis and Clark. Without this friendship, the journey would have failed. The Native Americans traded valuable resources the Corps could not do without, especially horses. Of course if they could not communicate with a particular Native tribe, nothing would have been traded. Lewis and Clark agreed to bring Sacagawea and her husband Charbonneau on their expedition primarily because of the languages they spoke. Charbonneau s ability to speak French and Hidasta and Sacagawea s ability to speak Shoshone benefited the Corps tremendously. Without the horses they traded from the Shoshone, it is unlikely Lewis and Clark would have crossed the Bitterroot Mountains or reached the Pacific Ocean. Your primary responsibilities as Interpreter are crucial to your Corps success. Although you will not actually be interpreting communication on your journey, you act as the interpreter might have, informing others of your findings based on your translation of the local language and customs. The main responsibility of the Interpreter is to tell President Jefferson about the Native Americans and the geography of your current location. Each day the Interpreter must: Research Your Location After your Captain determines the new latitude and longitude of your Expedition, find the area on your map Use classroom resources to research the Native American tribe who occupied that territory or the land near your location Take notes on as much information as you can find about this tribe Research the geography of the area: are you in the mountains or flat lands? Desert or lush green area? What kinds of flora and fauna are in this area? Write a Postcard to the President Use an index card; address it to President Jefferson Include on your index card (if you can find it all): Name and describe the Native Americans Tell what they eat and how they gather food Relate an interesting fact or two about them Describe the geography of your location Decorate your postcard with pictures of the area: mountains, plains, rivers, trees, plants, animals, etc. Do your best work Expedition Card A well-written and nicely decorated postcard earns your Corps one Expedition Card. 6 Lewis and Clark Student Guide INTERACT Order Direct: Interact

7 R O L E S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S THE PRIVATE In the Corps of Discovery, every member had a different skill and these all contributed to the Corps success. They worked to the point of exhaustion every day. As a Private of your Corps, you have tremendous responsibility. The Privates of each Corps perform their Corps Tasks with the same hard work, determination and attention to detail as members of the Corps of Discovery. Each Expedition Day the Private(s): With rispect to all those persons whose names are entered on this roll, I feel a peculiar pleasure in declaring, that the Ample support which they gave me under every difficulty; the manly firmnes which they evinced on every necessary occasion; and the patience and fortitude with which they submitted to, and bore, the fatigues and painful suffereings incident to my late tour to the Pacific Ocean, entitles them to my warmest approbation and thanks... Meriwether Lewis, Captain 1st U.S. Regt. Infty. Select a Corps Task Use the TASK DESCRIPTIONS and TASK LOG to select a Corps Task that interests you. You may not select a Task that another member of your Corps has already done If you are choosing a second task, select one from a different category (eg: if you already completed a Writing Task, you must select a different type of task, such as an Art and Craft or a Map Skills Task) Get your Corps Task Card from the designated task box Gather Materials and Resources Many Corps Tasks require many supplies; be sure you have everything you need before you begin Work Diligently Carefully read and follow directions on the Task Card Use class time and resources wisely Do your best work Allow other Corps members to help you if necessary You do not earn an Expedition Card until the Task is complete; take your project home if necessary Record Your Corps Task Initial and write date next to completed task number on the TASK LOG Share Your Corps Task Share project or activity with fellow Corps members or the entire class, as appropriate (three tasks specifically require that you present them to the class) Expedition Card A task must be complete and done well to receive credit of one Expedition Card per Corps Task Interact Order Direct: INTERACT Lewis and Clark Student Guide 7

8 H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U N D LEWIS, CLARK, AND THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE In 1803, many nations dreamed of controlling the land west of the Mississippi. People traded part-way up the Missouri River. The British had been as far as what is now North Dakota. What lay West was anybody s guess! President Thomas Jefferson wanted to change that, but he needed explorers to do so. He turned to his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead an expedition into the unknown land. Only 28 years old when President Jefferson asked Congress to approve him as Captain of the long journey, Meriwether Lewis was an unlikely choice. He had joined the army and was a promising officer when Jefferson brought him to Washington. Many people considered him impulsive. Jefferson himself noted occasional depressions of the mind in Lewis. Yet, Congress approved Lewis appointment. In the Spring of 1803, he ventured to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to study celestial observations under the teaching of Andrew Ellicott, a well-known astronomer-surveyor. To Captain Meriwether Lewis. The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by it s course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean... may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce. Thomas Jefferson, President June 20, 1803 Lewis spent several additional months visiting various scientists for lessons in determining latitude and longitude, describing and preserving botanical specimens, searching for wildlife, and administering medicine. Lewis was a quick study. By June of 1803, he decided he needed a co-commander and he asked his friend William Clark to participate with [him] in it s fatiegues, it s dangers and it s honors William Clark had experience negotiating with Native Americans. He was once Lewis commander in the army. He was outgoing and practical, his personality a perfect complement to the moodiness of Lewis. July 4, 1803, was not an ordinary Independence Day. Word came from Europe about a purchase Jefferson made which dramatically increased the importance of the expedition. For just three cents an acre, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte. Jefferson had sent his ministers to France, hoping to buy New Orleans. Trading up and down the Mississippi made the port at the mouth of the river important. When Napoleon made a counteroffer to sell the Territory all 820,000 square miles to the United States, Jefferson agreed. It was not a popular decision. Jefferson s enemies used the purchase as another excuse to criticize him. Many called the land a waste of money. Some people thought the United States had too much land already; to expand by acquiring an untamed wilderness was foolish. Nevertheless, Jefferson now had another reason for the expedition: he wanted to know what he bought! This expedition was a brave, unpopular, yet worthy risk. 8 Lewis and Clark Student Guide INTERACT Order Direct: Interact