Westward Waters-A Study of the Significance of Western Waterways in the History of the Nation
Westward Waters is an extensive staff content enrichment program for K-12 American history educators. Built around Thomas Jefferson's vision regarding the Louisiana Purchase, the content addresses the significance of Native Americans to the growth of the West, importance of the Missouri River for Lewis and Clark, and the roles of the Platte River and other waterways in westward expansion. Through graduate-level course work, "place-based" workshops at historic sites, development and web dissemination of lesson plans, and on-line college courses for any individual beyond the grant period, the project aims to reach all American history teachers in 40 districts as well as create a cadre of master history teachers. Project partners include the Eastern Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium and Wayne State College.