Going West Project Walkthrough

Early travel and
exploration across the
continent was
lengthy and
dangerous.

So, why did people
continue to migrate
west?

What drew settlers to the American West?

➔ The Louisiana Purchase of 1803

opened up vast regions in the West
for exploration and settlement.

➔ Americans sought greater

opportunities for land resources and
wealth. Starting in the 1810s people began to move west.

➔ Later, the Homestead Act of 1862

encouraged more Americans to
settle western lands.

What was life like in the Old West?

The Project: Stories of the American West

California

New Orleans

New York

Kansas City

Imagine the life of an American settler in the
West:

➔ Where would he or she explore and settle?

➔ Why did he or she migrate west?

➔ How does he or she make a living?

➔ What challenges would he or she face?

Write a short story--in the form of a graphic novel--about a
character’s life in the American West.

Your Task

Guiding Questions

How did daily life in the West shape

its culture?

How does a story’s structure shape
the story and influence its meaning?

Your Assignment

Familiarize

yourself with

the reasons that
people decided
to move west.

1

Examine the lives
of famous events

and historical
figures of the
American West

2

Create your

story! Why are
they out west?
What is their
daily life like?

4

3

Develop a fictional

character who

could have lived in
the American West!

Imagine their
responsibilities

The Checkpoints

Why Move West - Due 1/18

Learn about why people choose to move west.

1

2

Portrait of a Pioneer - Due 1/27

Study the character traits of people who
moved west. What traits do you want?

Story Outline - Due 2/9

Outline your story using the information
you learned about Westward Expansion

Storyboard Outline - 2/16

Sketch out your graphic novel.

​3

Assessed Cognitive Skills

1

Theme/ Central Idea

Identify the central idea of why
people move out west. Use key
details from your reading to
support your central idea.

Making Connections
& Inferences

Make connections on character
traits those who move west
possess.

3 & 4

Narrative

Outline and sketch your story

based on your new

knowledge of Westward

Expansion.

2