Westward, ho! The Lewis & Clark bicentennial in class.

A good deal is in the eyes of the beholder. That's just one lesson students can learn while honoring the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. In an elementary unit about trade relationships, discussions center around how people define wealth, what makes a good deal and more.

During the 2003-2006 bicentennial celebration, educators certainly won't have to trek cross-country to find materials on Lewis mad Clark. Lessons featuring audio and video segments, historical journals, maps and more are available free online. Those near the 11-state expedition trail can even experience the celebration live.

The bicentennial is not just for history buffs. Many lessons use a skill-building approach, says Robert Archibald, president of the Missouri Historical Society, which has developed a curriculum based on the five-city National Bicentennial Exhibition that begins in St. Louis. Because Lewis and Clark's team applied multiple disciplines to complete their mission, educators of almost any subject can incorporate the bicentennial in lesson plans.

"It's the quintessential American adventure story," Archibald says. But is it the same ol' story? Educators increasingly emphasize diversity in covering Lewis and Clark, such as through the Native American point of view, he explains. "You can say Lewis and Clark discovered the West, but only if you ignore the 200 million people who were already there." Studying the expedition provides "an opportunity to learn about how you empathize with and understand people who are very unlike yourself." www.lewisandclark200.org