Lesson: The Northwest Territory and the Black Hawk War of 1832
Authors: Coleen Pember and Jody Wolski
Grade Level: Elementary
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what
the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a
historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on
specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domainspecific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or
quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive
elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an
understanding of the text in which it appears.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.9 Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in
order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
(one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and
texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out
assigned roles.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow
up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the
remarks of others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1d Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own
ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.2 Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information
presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Wisconsin Academic Standards:
A 4.7 Identify connections between the local community and other places in Wisconsin,
the United States and the world.
B 4.5 Identify the historical background and meaning of important political values such
as freedom, democracy, and justice.
B 4.10 Explain the history, culture, tribal sovereignty and current status of the American
Indian tribes and bands of Wisconsin.
C 4.2 Identify the documents such as Declaration of Independence, the constitution,
and the Bill of Rights, in which the rights of the citizens in our country are guaranteed.
Essential Question: What historical events shaped the modern borders of Wisconsin
and the central states?
Learner Outcomes – Students Will Be Able To:
Read and interpret secondary historical sources.
Identify the states in the Northwest Territory.
Summarize the three set rules for the new territory.
Explain the conflict between the Native Americans and the settlers to the
Northwest Territory particularly the Blackhawk War of 1832.
Interact in small groups and will participate in an interactive jeopardy game to
review the Northwest Territory and Blackhawk War information.
Procedure:
Phase 1
1. Introduction: Review the history of the British in America and the Revolutionary
War using our Wisconsin textbook Wisconsin Journey (chapter 5).
2. Pass out copies of the attached Mapping Activity Northwest Territory worksheet
to students. Here is a digital map of the Northwest Territory.
3. After students complete the worksheet, call on students to list some states
created out of the Northwest Territory.
4. Pass out copies of the Northwest Ordinance.
5. Read the article as a class and call on students to answer the following:
Why would the federal government have wanted to encourage Americans
to move west?
What group of people would this movement especially affect?
6. Pass out the attached Northwest Ordinance worksheets. Students will use the
following articles to complete the Northwest Ordinance worksheets.
http://www.bookunitsteacher.com/nation_grows/lesson_1.htm
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_northwest.html
Phase 2
1. Introduction: Call on students to list the states created through the Northwest
Ordinance.
2. Using this link on the Black Hawk War or the Wisconsin Journey textbook,
starting on page 72.
3. Using these resources, students will complete an annotated timeline of the Black
Hawk War.
Closure: Students will play the attached Jeopardy game, presented in PowerPoint
format.
Assessment: Students will be informally assessed based upon their answers in the
Jeopardy game and in-class discussions. Students will be formally assessed upon their
answers to worksheet questions.
Northwest Territory Mapping Activity
Objectives:
Students will identify the major bodies of waters that form the borders of the Northwest Territory.
Students will identify the states that were created out of the Northwest Territory.
The students will be given a map and they will fill in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The
major bodies of water are Mississippi River, Ohio River, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and
Lake Erie.
Name_______________
Northwest Ordinance
1. Who came up with the Northwest Ordinance?
2. What States make up the Northwest Ordinance? (5 of them)
3. How many people had to be living in the territory before it became a state?
4. Who was appointed to the territory?
5. What are the 3 rules from the Northwest Ordinance listed in our textbook
on pg. 69?
6. When was the final Ordinance adopted by Confederation Congress?
Name_______________
Northwest Ordinance Answers
1. Who came up with the Northwest Ordinance? Thomas Jefferson
2. What States make up the Northwest Ordinance? (5 of them) WI OH IL IN MI
3. How many people had to be living in the territory before it became a state?
60,000
4. Who was appointed to the territory? A governor
5. What are the 3 rules from the Northwest Ordinance listed in our textbook
on pg. 69? No slavery, land for schools, any religion
6. When was the final Ordinance adopted by Confederation Congress? 1787