Lewis and Clark in Washington
Shrub Steppe Habitat

Dear Students,

The Franklin County Historical Museum is planning many activities to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery. As you may know, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the expedition through this area as they traveled toward the Pacific Ocean.

Our historical museum needs your help in gathering information about the plants, birds and mammals currently found in our local shrub steppe habitat. We would like your class to help set up a unit of study which would enable other classes of primary students to participate in a variety of hands on "in-the-field" experiences. Our local historical society would also like museum guests to enjoy a "Then and Now" journey of Lewis and Clark as they traveled through our area. We would like this to be a multimedia presentation, a virtual journey through our local shrub steppe habitat. Questions that we are frequently asked include: What plants and animals did the members of the Corps see? Which plants and animals were used for food? What kind of medicine did the men use when they got sick? How did Lewis and Clark map the area? What tools did they use?

With the bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery approaching, I know that people will be asking what this area looked like then and how has it changed since the days of Lewis and Clark. I understand that classes at Amistad Elementary are currently doing research with the Lewis and Clark journals to gather information from the members of the Corps of Discovery. We suggest that you collaborate with them. They should be able to recommend some good Websites for you to explore.

Our local historical museum would like your habitat research investigations to be added to the network of Lewis and Clark study sites being created for the bicentennial. Please be ready to share your action plan with us and have your formal presentation ready to present at a future board meeting. Remember, a virtual trip "through the eyes" of the Corps of Discovery team is our focus. We understand a network of Lewis and Clark cybersites will also be developed. We encourage you to participate in that journey by contributing to the Website being designed by students at Amistad and Canyon View Elementary Schools.

Enjoy the journey,

 

Jacque Sonderman, Curator

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Author: Vicki Mitchell, Southgate Elementary School, Kennewick, WA
Created for the NTEP II Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and Friends of Fermilab, and funded by United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), and the National Science Foundation.
Web Maintainer: ed-webmaster@fnal.gov
Created: November 7, 1998 - Updated: October 18, 1999
URL: /ntep/f98/projects/pnnl/southgate/vstudent1.shtml