The Climb

This printout requires students to consider a time when they thought they were at the cusp of finishing something great, only to learn there was MUCH more work to do.
 

Lesson:

1. Hook: The Climb Is the Journey (5–10 minutes)

Play or read the quote: “Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side… It’s the climb.” – Miley Cyrus
Ask students:

  • What does this lyric mean to you?
  • Do you think goals are more about the result or the effort to get there?
Connect this idea to the journey of Lewis and Clark—a major moment where effort didn’t immediately lead to reward.

2. Mini-Lesson: Lemhi Pass and Crushed Expectations (10–15 minutes)

Provide a short overview:

  • By late summer of 1805, Lewis and Clark had been exploring the West for nearly a year.
  • At Lemhi Pass in Idaho, Meriwether Lewis expected to see the Northwest Passage or the Pacific.
  • Instead, he saw only mountains and realized the hardest part of the journey still lay ahead.
Use a map or image of Lemhi Pass to show the scale of the challenge. Emphasize how this moment shaped their story—not through immediate success, but perseverance.

3. Writing Activity: Your Own Climb (25–30 minutes)

Present the prompt:
“Think about a time when you had to make the climb—when you worked really hard to complete an assignment, make a team, or reach a goal, and when you thought you were there, you realized there was so much more work to do. Describe your climb and what you learned from making it.”

Instructions:

  • Use sensory details to describe what the goal felt like and how the challenge unfolded.
  • Explain how your feelings changed when you realized more effort was needed.
  • Reflect on what you learned about yourself from this experience.
Encourage students to write at least 2–3 strong paragraphs. Support students who may need help brainstorming.

4. Sharing & Discussion (10–15 minutes)

Invite students to share their stories in pairs or with the whole class. Then discuss:

  • What similarities did you notice in your stories and Lewis and Clark’s?
  • How do challenges change us—even when we don’t immediately succeed?
  • Do you think “the climb” is more important than “the other side”? Why or why not?
Use this Activity:
Explain/Brainstorm - Explain to students that there were several instances in the Lewis and Clark journey where they thought they had reached a goal, only to realize they had farther to go. Life is like this too. Ask students to give an example of a time when they thought they had finished something, but soon realized there was much more to do.
Morning Work - This activity can serve as a fun start to the day or social studies class.
Homework - This informal writing activity is a great way to assign homework in social studies or language arts.
Share - When students have completed their essays, allow them to share with the class.
Interactive Notebook - This assignment serves as a great entry in interactive social studies notebooks.