USH.15

Aquilo: Westward Expansion

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

4.9 Stars

TEACHERS (2)

5.0

STUDENTS (7)

4.7

LENGTH

15 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

Travel west with Aquilo the eagle and follow the footsteps of pioneers, settlers, and explorers as they cross rivers, climb mountains, and reshape a nation. Choose your reason for going west, trade with Native nations, face rising tensions in Texas, and discover how dreams of land and freedom redrew the American map, one hard choice at a time.

Vocabulary Words

Manifest Destiny

missionaries

Mormon

Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about Westward Expansion. Suitable for Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Describe how visual art and symbolism promoted public support for westward expansion.

Analyze the U.S. government’s diplomatic and military strategies in acquiring new territories.

Discuss the role of the Oregon Trail and the Oregon Territory in the expansionist vision of the U.S.

Evaluate visual and written propaganda promoting Manifest Destiny and westward migration.

Analyze the causes and outcomes of the Mexican-American War and how it fulfilled the goals of Manifest Destiny.

Evaluate the causes and consequences of the annexation of Texas and the Texas War for Independence.

Explain the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the role of the Lewis and Clark expedition in establishing U.S. claims to the West.

Describe the concept of Manifest Destiny and how it was used to justify U.S. expansion across the continent.

Describe how the experiences of settlers on the westward trails contributed to mythologizing the American frontier.

Assess the significance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in shaping the U.S.-Mexico border and future relations.

Analyze how U.S. territorial expansion and the ideology of Manifest Destiny affected Indigenous peoples, Mexicans, and other non-Anglo communities.

Analyze the political, economic, and cultural motivations behind American westward migration.

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

What parts of the United States do you know about that weren't originally part of the country? The land American settlers were moving to already had Native American populations. How do you think they felt when they were told they had to give up their land? Do you know what Manifest Destiny is?

After the Game

How did Manifest Destiny influence the United States' actions during westward expansion? Who were some of the key groups that moved west? Why did they make the choice to move westward? Was the idea of Manifest Destiny truly about "destiny", or was it a justification for taking land from others?

Ratings & Reviews

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Ratings Breakdown

Teacher Ratings

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Student Ratings

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Game Details

Difficulty

Content Integration

Lexile Level

N/A

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