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Fun Homeschool US Westward Expansion Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a huge 97 page free US Westward Expansion lapbook. Also, I have a page Westward Ho with more ideas. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas page and on my best homeschool unit studies page.

You’ll want to study about westward expansion a few times to get in more subtopics of American history.

In addition, you may want to narrow down your focus to specific years or topics.

Fun Homeschool US Westward Expansion Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

However, for our first time studying about the expansion of the United States, we covered quite a few years and topics.

For example, I chose to cover the period of 1803 to 1890.

Additionally, making a list of topics to cover will help too.

Westward Expansion Unit Study Ideas

Besides, you want to create a foundation for your children to understand why people wanted to head west.

Free Minibooks About Westward Ho

For instance, look at this list of free minibooks I created for a westward expansion unit study,

  • Westward Ho Trifold Timeline Book
  • 1860 Pony Express Pop Up Book
  • Animals of the West with Pocket for Older Kids
  • Baby Animals of the West with Pocket for Younger Kids
  • Flora of the West for Older Kids
  • Flora of the West for Younger Kids
  • Buffalo Bill Frontiersman Tiny Book and pocket
  • Daniel Boone Frontiersman Tiny Book and pocket
  • James Fenimore Cooper _ Author Tiny Book and pocket
  • Sacagawea matchbook
  • Artists Study and Images George Caleb Bingham and Albert Bierstadt
  • 49ers Goldrush minibook
  • 1836 Remember the Alamo minibook, mini crossword, and Texian and Tejano images
  • Manifest Destiny Pros versus Cons
  • Barrel of Words Vocabulary
  • Flip book to learn about supplies on the Oregon Trail.
  • Prairie Schooner Top Flap,
  • Landmarks along the Trail, Devil’s Gate, Independence Rock & Chimney Rock,
  • Prairie Schooner Bottom Flap,
  • Disease on the Trail: Cholera
  • Picture for front/back of lapbook/notebook page.
  • Dividers for Lewis & Clark Expedition and one for Westward Expansion.
  • Pecos Bill older child
  • Pecos Bill younger child
  • Tall Tale Pecos Bill Writing Prompt
  • Transportation Layered Book
  • 1869 Transcontinental Railroad
  • Printable Board Game Oregon Trail
  • 2 Westward Ho Coloring Pages

As you can see from geography to language arts, I have many ideas for you.

Additionally, you’ll love reading some of these living books below.

Books about the Oregon Trail

10 Westward Expansion Resources

Add in a few books and resources to bring the study of the Oregon Trail to life during the United States expansion of the west.

And if you’re doing a unit study, you want to include hands-on learning.

Fun Homeschool US Westward Expansion Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

Finally, add some hands-on activities.

Hands-on US Westward Expansion Ideas

Moreover, there are many hands-on ideas you’ll want to include in this unit study.

Fun Homeschool US Westward Expansion Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

Too, are you looking to cover other areas of American History?

Look at these other lapbooks.

More History Lapbooks

How to Get the Free HUGE 102 Page Westward Expansion Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

Just follow the steps below.

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Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

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Today, I have some unit study ideas and my Lewis and Clark exploration lapbook. You’ll find more ideas on my page Lewis and Clark. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas page. Also grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

Studying Lewis and Clark is not only an exciting action-packed history topic, but it covers many subtopics.

During Lewis and Clark’s exploration, they learned about the plants and animals of the areas they passed through.

Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

In addition, they interacted with Native Americans and learned much about the geography of the area known as the Louisiana Territory.

In less than three years, the Corps of Discovery traveled over 8000 miles.

About the Louisiana Purchase

Why were Americans interested in the Louisiana Purchased? Prior to that time the western boundary was the Mississippi River.

And Americans wanted to trade further west.

In 1803, President Jefferson negotiated a deal with Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France.

President Jefferson needed to find a way to explore the land and he wanted to use the natural resources for the good of the country.

However, there were many tribes that inhabited the area west of the Mississippi River which President Jefferson informed Lewis and Clark about.

However, Lewis and Clark has no way of knowing they there were so many Native Americans who inhabited the vast lands.

For example, there were tribes like the Osages, Kiowas, Cheyenne, Crow, Chinook, Sioux, Shoshone, Pawnee, and many more.

Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

In addition, look at these other topics you can cover in your unit study.

Lewis and Clark Exploration Hands-on Activities

Moreover, a Lewis and Clark unit study and lapbook lends well to tons of fun hands-on activities.

Activities are numerous and I a few here to get your creative juices flowing.

Also, you can use some other resources to this lapbook instead of purchasing a curriculum.

Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

Then, you can go down any rabbit trail you wanted to learn how Lewis and Clark explored.

Books About Lewis and Clark

14 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.

Finally, look at the minibooks in the Lewis and Clark lapbook.

Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Lewis and Clark Lapbook, Notebooking Pages, and Coloring Pages

Below, look at the minibooks which come with this lapbook.

In addition, there are more minibooks than you need to fill one lapbook.

I include these in your lapbook so that if you want to study different subtopics you have a minibook.

Too, don’t forget we created this lapbook by turning the file folder landscape.

Now, here is a list of the pages which come with your purchase.

  • 3 pages which can be used for the outside cover – the pages are created for landscape layout
  • 5 coloring pages – which are created portrait. These can be used to include your younger children or use them for outside cover pages if you turn your file folder portrait instead of landscape.
  • 4 minipockets and minibook with lines – 1 each for Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea, and The Enlisted Men.
  • 4 minipockets and minibook with no lines – 1 each for Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea, and The Enlisted Men. This allows your child to draw or cut off the other side to use for memory, games, or add any other information. They are very flexible.
  • Doctoring in the Wilderness minibook – Have your child learn the names of a few herbs.
  • The Mission. Have your child describe what is the purpose of the mission or how it came about.
  • How Long Was the Journey minibook with timeline
  • What Did They Take minibook. Cut out pictures and talk about what they carried on the journey and why it was needed.
  • Map of the Expedition. Locate the places on the map.
  • Indian Country – Learn about the Native Americans Lewis and Clark encountered.
  • Geography on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Write some brief points about geography.
  • Botany Book 1 and Botany Book 2. Learn about some of the plants along the way.
Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love this Little House on the Prairie Unit Study and fun punched tin lantern. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

If you are anything like me, you grew up watching or reading about Laura Ingalls and her family’s adventures traveling westward from their first home in the little house in the big woods of Wisconsin. 

I spent many hours imagining I was Laura with my trusty guard dog Jack, running along the banks of Plum creek, going into town, and feuding with Nellie Olsen.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

If you too are eager to begin a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study with your kids, I have tons of great ideas to get you started.

Whether you settle in the prairie for a week or submerge yourself in all things Ingalls for a month or more you will find plenty here to keep you busy.

5 Little House on the Prairie Facts You May Not Have Known

  1. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s first book wasn’t published until 1932, 65 years after she was born.
  2. Laura was only 4’ 11” tall when she was fully grown, not particularly short for women of that time period, but it explains why Pa called her his” little half pint of cider half drunk up”.
  3. Laura’s first attempt at book writing about her life experiences was called Pioneer Girl, and it was initially rejected by publishers. Her daughter Rose suggested her mother rewrite it for the children. Clearly, it worked.
  4. Her longtime Missouri home, Rocky Ridge Farm, was turned into a museum.
  5. Laura’s father Charles was part of the Delano family. You might recognize the name – Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Laura was the fifth cousin once removed to FDR and a third cousin once removed to Ulysses S. Grant.

Pioneer Crafts and Activities

Then, add these books for beautiful literature.

Little House on the Prairie Unit Study Resources

Add some of these fun resources to ignite a love for learning about the Little House on the Prairie.

Also, it’s fun learning about Laura’s life through the pages of her books, but here are some facts too.

About Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, mostly known for the Little House on the Prairie series of children’s books, published between 1932 and 1943, which were based on her childhood in a settler and pioneer family.

Moreover, she was born in Pepin, Wisconsin in the “little house in the big woods” in 1867.

She lived through huge changes in America. Her family moved several times traveling by covered wagon.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Little House books

The eight original Little House books are:

  1. Little House in the Big Woods (1932)
  2. Farmer Boy (1933) – about Almanzo Wilder growing up in New York
  3. Little House on the Prairie (1935)
  4. On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937)
  5. By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939)
  6. The Long Winter (1940)
  7. Little Town on the Prairie (1941)
  8. These Happy Golden Years (1943)

Moreover, there are many topics and words for your child to learn about pioneer life in America.

I’ve listed some below.

Vocabulary Words

Although it’s important to understand the words used, I wanted my kids to love learning about the expansion in American history; And to see history unfold through the eyes of a child.

However, I’ve listed some below to add another language arts element.

  • wandered
  • massacre
  • scorched
  • huddled
  • brindle
  • papoose
  • trotted
  • beholden
  • staggering
  • rummaged
  • yonder
  • molasses

Next, look at these hands on fun ideas.

15 Little House on the Prairie Unit Study Hands-on Ideas

Play the Oregon Trail Online Game to give your child an idea of the route and the hardships those moving westward faced.

Make a Fun No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll just like little girls like Laura played with during those times.

It makes a lovely handicraft activity as well as a sweet keepsake of your study.

Create Fun Pioneer Peg Dolls to represent each of the characters in the book.

Try your hand at Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing using the same things that the pioneers would have to color fabric.

Make Maple Snow Candy and enjoy a taste of those days.

In addition, history overlaps quite a bit and though the original is tied to Daniel Boone you can recreate this Edible Log Cabin as an art project and a yummy snack.

Learn how to make soap.

Create a Native American cradleboard or papoose.

And make buttermilk biscuits.

If you really want to get a taste of pioneer history, Make Butter and Hardtack to sample.

Do a Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft.

Grab these fun 10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages

Enjoy a picnic outdoors with a lunch pail- wrap sandwiches and other items in waxed or brown paper, tie it up with a string, and carry it out in a tin bucket. Spread out a colorful piece of fabric or a quilt to enjoy your supper.

Learn the information on the Free Westward Ho History Cards

Do your lessons on small personal blackboards just like the girls did at home or in their little one-room schoolhouse.

Look at pictures of a pioneer house then and compare them to how we live today.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

In addition, look at some more unit studies and topics which go along with this theme.

More American History Unit Studies

Next, these unit study ideas either happened at the same time Laura lived or before her birth so your child understands this period in American history.

Too, not only does Laura describe terrifying events about wolves, but there would have been plenty of wildlife to learn about.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Wildlife on the Prairie

Look at this list of wildlife to learn about.

Moreover, look at my Lewis and Clark Unit Study which has more information about the flora and fauna along the route.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Finally, look at this next hands-on idea to add your fun Little House on the Prairie Unit Study.

How to Make a Punched Tin Lantern

Supplies needed:

  • A clean empty vegetable can
  • Hammer
  • Nails of a few different sizes
  • Small hand towel
  • Dry erase marker
  • Wire
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Battery-operated candle or small glass votive
Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Directions:

First, check to be sure that there are no sharp spots on the lantern where the top was removed.

Trim them off by going over the edges with a can opener again or with a metal file.

Also, if there is any remaining adhesive, you can remove it by running a hot blow dryer over the spot and pulling it off while it is still warm.

Fill the tin can with water and freeze until completely solid.

Draw out your design on one side with a fine-tipped marker like a sharpie.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Carefully tape a nail through the lines of your design with the hammer and continue all over the design placing holes around ¼” or less apart.

You can also use a Phillips head screwdriver or an awl if you have one for something with a handle.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Flip and repeat your designs on the other sides the same way wherever you would like it.

Punch a hole through on either side near the top for the handle.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Take a strand of jewelry wire and double it for added thickness.

Run it through one hole and twist the ends around the wire with needle nose pliers tucking in the sharp ends.

Next, run the wire as high as you would like the handle to be upwards and then down to the other side. Push it through and twist the wires again to close.

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Allow the ice to melt but you can speed this process up by running hot water in and over the lantern or placing it outside in the sun.

Dry the lantern and add a candle to the inside. What do you think, ready to start your own unit study?

Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

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Your child will have fun learning about Daniel Boone hunting with this quick deer unit study. Look at more ideas on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer and for my unit studies on best homeschool unit studies.

If you are trailblazing through the woods exploring about Daniel Boone, you may want to head into learning about Daniel Boone hunting.

Back when people were moving westward and setting out on new trails the wild game was plentiful in the woods.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Daniel Boone would have no doubt encountered deer, squirrel, bear, fox, raccoon, rabbit, beaver, and wild turkey.

I have gathered up plenty of resources for you to focus on a deer unit study.

Boone was a very gifted hunter and deer were a plentiful and common target for the woodsman.

Ideas for a Deer Unit Study

You will find books, games, and hands-on ideas.

I will walk you through a fun art project focusing on the deer’s antlers.

If your family are hunters your child is no doubt already immersed in the world of the hunt.

But if they are just starting out there are a lot of great resources to introduce them to deer, their habitats, their place in the food chain, and more.

10 Fun Facts About Deer

Next, look at these fun facts about deer.

  1. Deer can reach short distance bursts of speed up to 30mph and jump over 10 feet.
  2. One in 30,000 deer are albino, the absence of pigment, which gives them white fur and pink eyes.
  3. There are more than 40 different species of deer in the world.
  4. A moose is actually a member of the New World deer subfamily.
  5. Male deer shed their antlers once a year. Males grow antlers from March – September. The antlers are shed in late winter.
  6. On rare occasions, a female will grow antlers.
  7. A common deer in North America is the white-tailed deer.
  8. A male white-tailed deer is called a buck, a female is called a doe and the young are called fawns.
  9. White-tailed deer are herbivores. They eat twigs, buds, and leaves of a wide variety of plants.
  10. Deer antlers are the fastest growing bone known and can grow as much as a ½ inch a day.

Then, look at some of these fun resources to learn about deer.

Deer Unit Study Resources

Add these books for a fun deer unit study or to learn about animals encountered along the trails of the Westward Expansion.

About White-Tailed Deer

Deer are ruminant mammals which means it has a four‐chambered stomach.

In addition, deer are browsers which means they eat leaves and buds which are not easily digestible.

Their name white tailed deer comes from the fact that when they are in danger their white tail stands upright like a flag.

Too, antlers are grown by only male deer called bucks. However, both male and female reindeer have antlers.

Antlers are made of bone and is covered by a substance called velvet which is full of blood vessels to supply nutrients to the bone.

In addition, no doubt when Daniel Boone was hunting, he was familiar with the diet and habitat of the white tailed deer.

For example, they like open woods, old fields and anywhere along water sources. Deer use the wooded areas for cover and food.

And deer feed on nuts, berries, woody shoots and stems, acorns, honeysuckle, and poison ivy.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

If food is planted like corn, soybeans and decorative shrubs they’ll eat that food too.

Next, deer normally make three different sounds which are maternal, reproductive and alarm.

Moreover, I have some fun deer notebooking pages to add to this unit study.

Deer Notebooking Pages

Further, your child can do his own research about deer and add his own notes or use some facts off my post here.

Grab the notebooking pages below.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Also, add in some fun hands-on activities.

Hands-on Deer Activities

  • This Easy Hands-on Science: Animal Camouflage Activity Hunt is a great introduction to understanding animal camouflage for younger children.
  • Grab this White Tailed Deer Print Out for younger kids to see the different parts of a deer as well as a footprint.
  • Make a hand craft deer for the littles.
  • If you have the opportunity to use some you have or borrow some antlers from a hunt or shed, let your child explore them by touching and seeing what they feel like, count the tips, and make other observations.
Fun Learning About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Quick Deer Unit Study
  • Turn a few fun deer toys into a wonderful activity by adding a little sand, moss, rocks, and sticks to a tray or bin to turn it into a deer themed sensory activity. Use a small piece of paper to give the woodland clearing a pond.
Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Discuss the differences between antlers and horns and if you have some let your kids explore how they are the same and different. Additionally, measure them and learn about math measurements.
  • Get outdoors with a field guide to locate wildlife and learn about when is the best time to view deer.
  • Learn how colonists and early Native American used parts of the deer in everyday life.
  • Further learn and match animal tracks.

Daniel Boone Hunting and Life Resources

Next, look at these other the life of Daniel Boone hunting and about his life resources.

Finally, I am going to walk you through creating your own multimedia deer art project.

We are going to focus on the antlers.

It makes a good springboard to talk about deer antlers, why they have them, and why they fall off.

This will be the easiest way anyone has brought home a 10 point buck.

Deer Art Project

You will need:

  • 11×14 canvas
  • Sticks and twigs of various sizes
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Acrylic paint
  • pencil
Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Before you begin, sketch out the top of your deer head onto paper until you are happy with your design.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Retrace the design onto the canvas with a pencil.

Don’t worry about getting it perfect.

We are making our deer just peek over the edge and focusing on those antlers.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Water down blue paint and paint all around the drawing. But do not paint to the edges of your drawing.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Crumple up a rag or paper towel and pat the blue all over to lighten the paint.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Allow the blue paint to dry to the touch, it shouldn’t take long since you removed all the excess paint.

Begin painting to fill in the outline of the deer with brown paint and add details with black and light brown for highlights.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Let the paint dry completely and lay out the sticks until you are satisfied with your antlers.

Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

Lastly, hot glue each piece down

How to Get the Free Deer Notebooking Pages

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That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

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Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

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You’ll love this free Texas homeschool lapbook. Grab more lapbooks on my lapbook ideas page. Also grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

This lapbook was created to introduce you briefly to my native land of Texas, a little history, some famous Texans, and a few fun facts. 

Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Moreover, this unit will be expanded on in the future by covering other parts of Texas including the Republic of Texas

While the Alamo and how Texas became a Republic were much more significant topics to be learning as a little girl growing up in southern Texas, I was often fascinated by hearing such names as Ima Hogg and Ura Hogg.

But some things I learned where tall tales. For example, there was no Ura Hogg but there was an Ima Hogg.

Beyond the fun tidbits I learned growing up, I’m excited to share a starting point about the history of Texas.

Texas In Its Infancy

Besides the attack of the Alamo in March 1836 in San Antonio, Texas, other events contributed to the history of Texas.

Texas was a Mexican province and both U.S. and Mexico recognized the abundant land and fertile land.

However, the location of Texas was closer to the expanding United States.

Too through the years I’ve read in some places that Tejanos made up only about 4000 people in 1821.

Tejanos are persons of Mexican descent living in Texas. Today we call them Mexican American.

At the time there were not very many settlers to defend Texas against Mexico.

And Americans were allowed to settle in Texas.

So, in return for the cheap land grants Americans had to become Mexican citizens, accept the Mexican constitution and the religion of Roman Catholic.

As I learned in Texas history growing up this was a strategy Mexico used to try to convert American settlers as an asset by Mexico.

Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

I guess that far back a rebellion was already in the works.

Books about Texas

In addition, here are some fun books about Texas.

10 Resources for Learning About the Lone Star State & Texas Cattle Drives

Add a few of these resources to learn about the great state of Texas.

Below are some hands-on resources.

MORE RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS

Grab these other Texas unit study resources below.

Also, look at the minibooks included in this free Texas homeschool lapbook.

Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Minibooks about Texas

Next, look at some of the topics covered in the lapbook with the minibooks.

  • Map of the geography of Texas
  • Trivia and Natural Regions
  • Founding Fathers of Texas
  • Fun Facts
  • Famous Texans
  • XIT Ranch
  • And a fun book Texas “Ainglish”

How to Get the Free Texas Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie. And I have a list of links for this unit study included in the download.

 1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!