This journal delves into Understanding by Design, as well as Growth Mindset. In this document, I answer questions regarding both, showing more of my educational philosophy.

This is an overall unit plan for Westward Expansion in American history. The objectives of the unit are identifying the context of Westward expansion, relating it to current trends, and viewing the roots of modern cultures and events through the lens of Westward expansion. The penultimate artifact of learning in this unit is a caravan journal that students work on throughout the unit.

This lesson concerns the Oregon Trail. Objectives are identifying the challenges of traveling the trail and explaining reasons for using it. At the height of this lesson, students will play the game The Oregon Trail, keeping track of food and money, to experience the difficulties of the journey.

This activity accompanies the Oregon Trail Lesson. In this activity, students are asked to place themselves in the mindset of a caravanner on the Oregon Trail. This will show them the difficulties of the Oregon Trail and provide them with experience to use in writing their caravan journal for the unit.

This lesson focuses on the Trail of Tears. Most of the activities for this lesson are variations of guided readings of the event. An attempt to give the Trail of Tears the proper gravitas it deserves was made in the creation of this lesson.

This a collection of assessments to be used with the Westward Expansion unit. A diagnostic, a formative, a summative, and project are all presented. The project is in the form of a caravan journal that students work on throughout the course of the unit.