Have you ever looked at the Lewis and Clark plants drawings? And wondered how it must have been to stumble across strange and wonderful plants no one had seen before? Also, look at my Lewis and Clark Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook.
One of the great contributions that Lewis and Clark made during their expedition across the unexplored Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest was their journals.
The journals contained notes, maps, and of course drawings of plants and animals never seen before.
One fantastic way to learn is to incorporate science into a history lesson.
You do this by spinning off one of the subtopics. Today we’re doing botany.
From May 1804 to September 1806 they recorded observations, mapped out routes, sketched plants, and traded with Native American Tribes.
Some of their discoveries included: Bitterroot, Lewis Flax, Cottonwood, Purple Prairie Clover, Golden Currant, Osage Orange, Prickly Pear, and Camas, just to name a few of the more well-known species.
I have a quick and easy challenge with a bit of a chalk pastel lesson to get you going on your journey.
The Expedition of Lewis and Clark Books For Kids
In addition, look at some of these living books to add to your unit study.
Besides living books, add reference books to your learning day.
15 Lewis and Clark | Sacagawea Exploration Unit Study Resources
Lewis and Clark is one of the most significant periods in American history and you can spend weeks exploring the lands and people west of the Mississippi with these fun books and resources.
Appealing art and descriptive text bring Lewis and Clark alive for young adventurers. Carefully chosen text from Lewis and Clark's actual journals opens a fascinating window into this country's exciting history.
Explore one of the most recognized figures in American history with this biography of Sacagawea. Kids will learn about her crucial role in the Lewis and Clark expedition and her influential legacy. The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers.
Commissioned in 1803 by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and open up this vast territory, Lewis and Clark felt it was the realization of a lifelong dream. Against the hardships of the wilderness, possible attack by hostile Indians, sudden blizzards and terrifying natural obstacles, these two men led the Corps of Discovery ably and nobly to complete their mission. Their Corps included American Indians from the Sioux, Mandan, Shoshone, Clatsop and Chopunnish tribes. Sacajawea, the only woman on the trip, was a Shoshone woman who contributed invaluable service as interpreter and guide. Daugherty's evocative sepia and black ink illustrations depict individuals of humor, vitality, passion, and strength.
From the New York Times bestselling author the definitive book on Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the most momentous expedition in American history and one of the great adventure stories of all time.
The only book ever written that tells the eyewitness truth about this famous teenage Indian mother who was indispensable to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out from Camp Dubois, Illinois, heading westward under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his Second Lieutenant, William Clark. While Lewis led the group in terms of rank, the two men became de facto equals, giving their names jointly to a journey that would shape the future of the fledgling United States — the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This book presents journal entries taken directly from the expedition.
Describes how Sacagawea found adventure guiding Lewis and Clark to the Oregon coast.
Take Your Own Journey through History on the Lewis & Clark Trail! Follow the journey of the Corps of Discovery from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello through the Midwest and the Rockies, to the Pacific Ocean and back with this detailed chronicle of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. This third edition of the classic guidebook features accessible text that combines the historical sites and color maps that merge the past and present in a user-friendly and entertaining way.
When Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the "Corp of Discovery" left St. Louis, Missouri, on May 1, 1804, their mission was to explore the vast, unknown territory acquired a year earlier in the Louisiana Purchase. The travelers hoped to find a waterway that crossed the western half of the United States. They didn't. However, young readers will love this true-life adventure tale of the two-year journey that finally brought the explorers to the Pacific Ocean.
In this epic graphic novel, follow the dramatic story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 1804, these two explorers, along with their "Corps of Discovery," traversed the unmapped American West, leading to scientific discoveries, interactions with Native nations, and route to the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic illustrations and fast-paced text provide a "you-are-there" experience. With extensive back matter, including a bibliography, extended reading list, glossary, and further Internet sources, young readers will gobble up this action-packed comic book about one of history's most compelling moments.
In The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country from Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad, readers ages 9 to 12 can delve into the explorations of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and other explorers. They can learn about the more than half a million people who followed during the nineteenth century. What challenges did these pioneers face on the 2,170-mile journey? How were Native American tribes and nations affected by this mass migration? Primary sources allow readers to feel like a part of the Oregon Trail experience while biographical sidebars will introduce the compelling people who were part of this time in U.S. history. Investigative, hands-on projects and critical thinking activities such as writing a treaty and researching artistic impressions of the Oregon Trail invite readers to further their understanding of life on the trail, early towns and forts, and the Transcontinental Railroad that followed the wagons into new lands and territories that would eventually become states.
A trade paperback edition of the award-winning tale of the journey of Lewis and Clark. When Seaman, a Newfoundland dog, met his new master in August of 1803, he didn't know that he would spend the next three years on an adventure of more than 8,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean and back. Seaman's Journal is based on actual entries in Meriwether Lewis s journal describing Seaman, and it presents an account of the Lewis and Clark expedition as seen from the viewpoint of Lewis s dog. Join Seaman before the trip as preparations take place. Meet the Native American guides and friends they encountered along the way. And read of Seaman s love for Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman whose husband acted as interpreter and guide. Ages 5-8.
Describes the expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the unknown western regions of America at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Following Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery as they navigate the muddy Missouri River and begin a great adventure, this activity book is set against the background of the vast North American continent. It takes children from President Jefferson’s vision of an exploratory mission across a continent full of unique plants and animals through their dangerous and challenging journey into the unknown to the expedition’s triumphant return to the frontier town of St. Louis. Twenty-one activities bring to life the Native American tribes they encountered, the plants and animals they discovered, and the camping and navigating techniques they used. A glossary of terms and listings of Lewis and Clark sites, museums, and related websites round out this comprehensive activity book.
Sacajawea was a brilliant, multilingual Shoshone girl who was torn from her home at a young age. In 1804, she set out with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide across hundreds of miles of unmapped land to reach the Pacific Ocean. Almost 200 years later, she became the first Indigenous woman to appear on a US coin. This is her story.
Too, there are 7 more botany art lessons ideas, and everything you need to get started on your own journey creating your own plants drawings.
Besides chalk pastels, explore with oil pastels as well as watercolor, charcoal, colored pencils, and artists markers to not only learn about plants but incorporate some new art techniques as well.
7 Quick Botany Art Lessons
- Happy sunflowers make a great subject in the case of this Easy Sunflower Nature Study.
- Try a Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study using real flowers and art supplies.
- This is a great tutorial for teens-Art Tutorial: Painting a Philodendron Plant with Gouache.
- Learn What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft for a more dimensional project.
- Not just one but Two Nature Inspired Art Activities for Kids using their powers of observation to create art.
- Not all plants are friendly, Carnivorous Plants For Kids and Make a Fun Paper Plate Venus Flytrap Craft is a great way to learn about more aggressive plants.
- For younger kids a Q-Tip Painted Lavender Plant Craft is an easy and fun way to create a frameable piece of plant art.
Also, look at a few botany art resources.
Must Have Resources for Botany Art Lessons
For a deep dive into botany turned art lessons there are a few things you will need to have on hand packed up in a fun little tote to take into the field.
- If you want a really good solid app for identifying plants and animals grab iNaturalist, you can also use it to record your discoveries digitally.
- Have a look at the Lewis and Clark Journals for yourself.
- Nature Anatomy– If you are going out into the field to study and draw plants and animals you need a couple of great books to act as field guides. I find myself reaching for this one every time I have nature study.
- You will need a good sketch journal as well for your drawings.
- Chalk Pastels too.
Additionally, you’ll love more Lewis and Clark hands-on history activities.
Lewis And Clark Hands-on History Activities for Kids
- 7 Fun Sacagawea Facts For Kids | How To Make Lewis & Clark & Sacagawea Peg Dolls
- Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
- 22 Free Lewis & Clark Activity Posters (You Don’t Want to Miss These)
- Lewis & Clark – Mighty Mississippi book & Sediment Activity
- Lewis and Clark:Cooking on the Trail
- Lewis and Clark Expedition – The Ultimate Guide
- Lewis and Clark Louisiana Purchase Edible Map
- Reliving The Past: Lewis And Clark’s Hands-on Experience With Simple Char Cloth
Finally, look at how to make these Lewis and Clark plants drawings.
Lewis And Clark Plants Drawings with Chalk Pastels
You will need:
- Heavy textured paper
- Chalk Pastels
- Pencil
- Blending Stumps
First, head out to your favorite state or national park.
Wander through a field or forest, near a pond, or even in your own backyard to create a nature journal filled with all kinds of botany themed art.
Once you have found your subject, for us it was an Arrowhead Elephant Ear in the backyard, find it in your field guide.
Or use the iNatural app I listed above to discover what your plants name is.
Lightly draw the outline of your plant with a pencil, erase any areas that are too dark, so they won’t show through your chalk pastel.
Sketch it until you are satisfied with the design.
Take the lightest shade of colors in your plant and draw the outline and stems.
Fill in the center and blend the color out with your fingers or use a blending stump.
Layer on darker shades progressively to deepen the color, shade, and add more detail like the ribbing on the leaves.
Write the common name as well as the scientific name for your plant.
You now have a great start for your botany art journal.
