The Lewis and Clark Expedition

In 1804, President Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the West, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. With a few dozen men, a dog called Seaman and a young Shoshone woman, Sacagawea, they travelled for more than two years through lands that no American had ever mapped.

Start with the easiest video, then follow them along the Missouri River: read Clark's journal, label the paintings, rebuild the timeline... and find out what really happened.

The expedition, step by step (A2 → B2)

• The expedition in short (A2) Who, why, and a live prairie dog sent to the president: start here.
• Almanac: a page of history (B1) A keelboat, a dog called Seaman and a tiny budget: how it all began.
• Without Sacagawea's help... (B1) A standoff with the Sioux, a freezing winter, and the young woman who saved the expedition.
• The whole story: fact or fiction? (B1/B2) Mosquitoes, frozen rivers and a hungry crew: follow them to the Pacific, then sort fact from fiction.
• Lewis and Clark in paintings (A2/B1) Who's who? Label four famous paintings, and spot what the painters got wrong.
• Clark's journal: trouble on the Teton River (B1) Written comprehension: A sword, a hundred arrows and a very bad mood: read what Clark wrote that night.
• /t/, /d/ or /ɪd/? (A2/B1) Phonology: Ten sentences about the expedition: listen, sort the -ed endings and read them.
• The timeline (A2/B1) Ten key moments, from 1803 to 1806: put them back in the right place.
• What did they achieve? (B1) Maps, plants, a live prairie dog... rebuild ten sentences about their achievements.
• Vocabulary (A2/B1) Keelboats, paddles, warriors and prairie dogs: the 47 words of the journey, to learn and test yourself.