Lewis and Clark Expedition & Sacajawea

What do you do when the "Books" (aka curriculum) gets boring? 

You loose the books and get creative.

The other day Spencer came into the room and had a memory bubble from years ago (not unusual in this house when you have a child with Autism who has a photographic memory).  He started to tell me about this Indian girl who was only 16, acted as a tour guide for two crusaders. I know exactly who he was talking about, as my Grandmother had told me she was my ancestor.

Sacajawea
(also spelled Sacagawea).

When I was a kid, I has a Sacajawea doll, but our family dog ate her. To bad I do not still have her!
So here is where my creative light bulb went off. He is interested in it, can not remember ALL the facts, so this would be a great idea for American History. Of course their is a lesson in his book (United States History in Christian Perspective, Heritage of Freedom 11th grade), but it not for a few Chapters.
 I could have been like a Public Education Teacher and apologized and and told him he would have to wait a few chapters... The beauty of Home School! 

We managed to find a few good websites, and we made this fun!
Lewis and Clark Trail / Legacy Timeline 

I printed out Key Lewis and Clark expedition sites, and had him write down on thing that happened from each site.

After I decoded the answers (see attached picture) I was able to type this out so everyone could read it.  I tried to get him to type it as he is much better with a keyboard than a pencil.

           Preparations

1. Monticello- Plants discovered were corn, snow berry, and flowering pea.
2. Washington DC- Basically started and ended (President Johnson)
3. Philadelphia-  Lewis had to go there.
4. Harpers Ferry- Lewis and Clark obtained weapons from here.
   
   Recruitment
5. Pittsburgh- 1,600 recruits
6. Louisville- Lewis asked Clark to go with the travelers.
7. Ft. Massac- 2 recruits
8. Ft. Kaskaskia- Clark and his armada take over the Spanish Fort. 
9. St. Louis- Expedition vacated
10. Camp Dubois- The camp they stayed in for the Winter.
    
    Exploration
11. Council Bluffs- Where Lewis and Clark met the Otoe Tribe.
12. Floyd's Grave- Charles Floyd died here.
13. Calumet Bluff- N/A (after one hour of intense research, he was unable to find the answer)
14. Fort Mandan- Another Winter Camp
15. Great Falls- One of  the Lewis and Clark discoveries.
16. Camp Fortunate- Is a massive water reserve. 
17. Shoshone Villages- of the Shoshone tribe, started the snake wars.
18. Traveler's Rest- Serves as an Inn
19. Lolo Trail- used by expedition as a short cut
20. Columbia Cascades- N/A (again after one hour of intense searching...nothing)
21. Fort Clatsop- used as a NORMAL camp by the expedition
22. Camp Disappointment-  The final camp used by the expedition.

Spencer also made the Lewis and Clark Expedition into a comic strip. He changed the charaters into prehistoric animals (see attached picture).

We also watched (On Netflix) National Geographic, Lewis and Clark Great Journey West.

There was a 3 hour movie available, but we voted on the short version.

We did learn some interesting facts about Sacajawea while we were studying the expedition.   You see, both Lewis and Clark kept detailed diaries during their journeys. The only problem was some rapids caused their boat to over turn at some point, and they lost some of what they had on their boat.  If it was not for Sacajawea, it would have ALL been lost, and we might never know of her Legend, her Legacy she leaves behind, as she was mentioned in these diaries. In a way, she saved herself from being lost in History.  We did learn she became a wife around the age of 14 to a Chief  who was already married once. While Pregnant, and then giving birth to a baby, she led two men, and their armada aross the USA headed West.  She ended up giving birth to a baby girl who passed away at one year old. Her son, adopted by Clark, grew up to be an explorer himself, and started at one day old. She died at the young age of 25 but lived a full life with many adventures.

 She is a role model to all woman!

I wonder if and when we get to this chapter in our "Book" if he will want to learn more, or skip it? I'll let you know in a few chapters!