This curriculum unit analyzes the common cultural images people have about the western United States and how incomplete those images are. The lessons are divided into five sections. The first section, "Investigating Images and Assumptions," presents four lessons to engage students in beginning the examination of their images and assumptions about the West. The second section, "Coming Into The Country," presents five lessons that look at the convergence of cultures in the West. The four lessons in the third section, "Examining and Demythologizing the Mythic West," involve students in examining fiction and film as a means of demythologizing the mythic West. "Variables of Culture," section four, explores the conflicts and cooperation that result from culture contact. The final section, "The West as Region: Place, Landscape, and Environment," presents six lessons that examine the West as region, looking at how western history and culture are shaped by the landscape. Each lesson is presented in a standard format, opening with a brief introduction followed by objectives and an estimate of how much class time the lesson will require and information about the materials and preparation needed to use the lesson. Step-by-step procedures for using the lesson are then provided. Some lessons include teacher background information or ideas for activities that will extend and enrich the learning. Masters for student handouts are provided. (EH)