Oregon Trail
Mrs. Watson's Third Grade Class
The online project site: Westward HO!
Lesson Plans and Ideas
I will read the Travel statement to the class at this time. Each wagon must make a decision. The Mother or Father types it in a Word file, and saves it to his/her Word Document folder. The file name will be Travel and Fates. Every member of the wagon saves it in their folders also. Families can add additional notes here. When all decisions have been typed and saved, they are ready to hear their fate.
We'll be leaving from Independence, Missouri.
If extra work is needed today, please check for ideas below:
Extra work if needed:
1. Silent reading: Remember to choose AR books on your level!
- Read: Pioneers
- To get a feel of what life on the trail was like, read: True Stories
- Copy and try some: Pioneer Recipes
- Photos of the Old West
2. Design a covered wagon.
3. I have some streaming videos on the Oregon Trail located in Video Downloads folder. Use any of these you wish.
4. Students could pick and choose from these activities:
Quilts: To a pioneer woman, quilts were a necessity, not history in the making. Her family need bedcoverings and she generally pieces together whatever material was available. Often, however, the quilts became a personal family history. Members of a family could lie in bed and night under a warm quilt and pick out pieces made from a favorite dress, their grandma's apron, etc. Quilting is still done today, with many new designs being created. Geometrical designs often show up in quilt patterns.
A friendship quilt is usually made to honor a special person. Each square is made by a different person, who would then add their name, date, or city and state on the square. To a pioneer woman moving far away from family and friends, a friendship quilt given to her as she departed provided a pleasant reminder of her home she was leaving behind.
Today is Wednesday, May 2: Crossing the Blue River (traveled 15.2 miles)
I'm back from my scouting trip. I found out that in Lawrence, Kansas, the Oregon Trail split for some reason. After researching, I found the answer. During high water of the Kansas River, the lower trail would flood, so they would need to pick up a trail higher up. During low water times, the lower trail would work fine.
It looks like we're hoping to make about 15 miles today. We'll be coming upon the Blue River and will need to make some decisions there.
1. Let's see what we can find out about the trip so far: Start of the trail
2. Travel and Fate: Record decision in Word File created.
3. Time line and another Time line
Today is Monday, May 3, 1850 (traveled 39.4 miles)
1. Fill out the About Our Family information on the Excel Travel Ledger. Friday, we will take pictures of each family and post to a web site with the information about your family. Eventually, I would like to add your family decision journals.
2. Discover some of the hardships you'll encounter along the trail:
Research: http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/8/unit/act4.2.html
http://oregontrail101.com/Hardships.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/hardships.html
http://www.america101.us/trail/Hardships.html
More hardship resources:
Use these websites to organize these obstacles, then make a list of Do's and Don'ts that your wagon train members can follow to help them avoid illness, disease, hostile run-ins with the Indians, and accidental deaths. Then Create a Top Ten list of "survival advice" for the members of your wagon train. Create a Word Document with this information, save and print your file. The file name will be Hardships. Turn this page in.
The junction of the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails
Use a Travel and Fate Card here.
May 4, 1850: Observation Bluff (traveled 47 miles)
Observation Bluff is a ridge located just west of Captain Creek, Kansas. Use a Travel & Fate card here.
Sample Photos - Wagon Train: (I can't wait until Friday for our photo opportunity!)
Journal entry: May 4: Write about the junction of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails and Observation Bluff.
To help you get your creative juices flowing, here's a few journal entries.
To help you with your journals, you might need more background on what life was like. If you are a child, you could write about the chores you do each day. Click here for a list of chores you might do.
Today is May 5-7, 1850: Mile 54 - Wakarusa River (traveled 54 miles)
1. What is the best way to cross a river? Read about various ways early settlers did it.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081218155324AA88mvg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--3pOyrBglk
2. Wakarusa River:
http://shawnee-bluejacket.com/Bluejacket_Folders/The_Wakarusa_River.htm
Travel and fate card here:
Today is May 8-14, 1850: Mile 165 - Day after day of tedious traveling. Hope to make Independence Crossing, Marshall County, Kansas, by the 14th.
Independence Crossing: Big Blue River
Alcove Springs: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/history/alcove.html
http://www.america101.us/trail/Alcovespring.html
Alcove Springs marker: http://www.washburn.edu/cas/art/cyoho/archive/KStravel/aboveKaw/
The Big Blue: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/OREGON/otrail05.html
Travel and Fate card here
Today is May 16, 1850: Mile 195 - Fremont Springs
What do you know of John Fremont and Kit Carson?
John C. Fremont
http://www.museumoflocalhistory.org/fremont/index.htm
Kit Carson
http://www.virtualology.com/americanwest/KIT-CARSON.COM/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/carson.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/carson.htm
Travel and Fate
May 20, 1850: Mile 252 - The Narrows (1.5 miles northwest of Oak, Nebraska)
This landmark was named for the area that caused travel to slow down to a crawl. It was an area between the Little Blue River and the bluff on its east bank. Wagons and cattle alike had to travel single file. It was a haven for rattlesnakes.
You'll have 15 minutes to become experts on pioneer illnesses. Pioneers did not have the drugs we have today, so they had to rely on cures passed down from previous generations, or what they learned about on the trail. What would you do if a member of your wagon suddenly became ill and needed a remedy quickly?
As you view the following sites, pay close attention to the remedies for snakebite. Did you know that rattlesnake bites would cause a person's limb to swell and unless a cure was found, the limb would usually have to be amputated (sawn off?) OUCH!!!
Once you have researched the following sites and feel you have enough information to help "doctor" members of your wagon should the need arise, feel free to stop and have a little fun by going hunting on the Oregon Trail.
Snake Bite?
http://www.herper.com/venom/treat.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_would_you_treat_a_snake_bite_in_pioneer_times
Old West Cures:
http://www.oldtimeremedies.co.uk/labels/snake%20bite.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100612091332AApqr2c
Every Man His Own Doctor:
http://www.armoryhill.com/doctor01.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100325163402AAodshf
http://www.oldtimeremedies.co.uk/labels/snake%20bite.html
The Mad Stone:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~okmurray/stories/mad_stone.htm
May 30, 1850: Mile 319 - Fort Kearny "Fort Childs"
http://www.america101.us/trail/FtKearny.html
http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/site4.htm
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/fort_kearny.htm
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ne-fortkearny.html
We've finally reached civilization such as it is......Now is the time to buy a few supplies. Our next chance will not be until we reach Fort Laramie.
http://www.lds.org/library/pio_sto/Pioneer_Trail/17_Fort_Kearney.html
Travel and Fate
June 10, 1850: Midway Station in Nebraska - Mile 383
Travel and Fate
June 11, 1850: Mile 401 - Gilman Station
Do a safe search. Find out what a blacksmith does.
http://www.factmonster.com/dictionary.html
Travel and Fate
June 13, 1850: Mile 406 - Cottonwood Springs
Travel and Fate
June 23, 1850: Mile 485 - Lower Old California Crossing - The South Platte
Travel and Fate
June 25-26, 1850 - Mile 500 - Windlass Hill and Ash Hollow Spring Mile 504.5
http://www.globalclassroom.org/nebraska.html
http://oregontrail101.com/00.n.platte.html
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2503
http://www.america101.us/trail/00.n.platte.html
This is a good place to fill our water barrels before we move on.
Read through Travel and Fate
June 30, 1850: Mile 561 - Courthouse Rock
http://www.america101.us/trail/Courthouse.html
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/courthouserock.htm
http://oregontrailwithollie.com/gallery/jail-rock-courthouse-rock/
http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/site6.htm
Read through Travel and Fate
July 1, 1850: Mile 575 - Chimney Rock
http://www.america101.us/trail/Chimney.html
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/chimneyrock.htm
Read through Travel and Fate
July 4, 1850: Mile 596 - Scott's Bluff
http://www.america101.us/trail/Scottsbluffs.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_National_Monument
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Scottsbluffs.html
Read through Travel and Fate
July 6, 1850: Mile 615: Horse Creek Crossing- Trail Decision #1
Travel and Fate: Be ready to make a decision!
July 10, 1850: Mile 641: Grattan Massacre
Grattan Massacre:
http://www.sangres.com/wyoming/history/grattan-massacre.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grattan_massacre
Read Travel and Fate card here.
General Harney?????? Did that site say General Harney? Did you know they were talking about Sullivan's very own General Harney, a famous Missourian? How many of you have heard of the Harney Mansion? We will do some side research here about General Harney when we have time.
The Harney Mansion and General Harney
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harney2/General/mansion.htm
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July 10, 1850: Mile 641: Fort Laramie (Goshen County, Wyoming)
Fort Laramie:
http://www.america101.us/trail/FtLaramie.html
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/ftlaramie.htm
http://www.lds.org/gospellibrary/pioneer/22_Fort_Laramie.html
Travel and Fate
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July 12, 1850: Mile 658: Register Cliff
http://www.wyomingheritage.org/registerCliff.html
http://www-wsl.state.wy.us/platte/wtweb/registercliff.htm
Photo: http://travelphotobase.com/s/WYFR.HTM
Read Through Travel and Fate
July 12, 1850: Mile 662: Warm Springs (2.5 miles west of Guernsey, Wyoming)
July 17, 1850: Mile 724: Ayers Natural Bridge (12 miles west of Douglas, Wyoming)
Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayres_Natural_Bridge_Park
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/ayersbridge.htm
http://www.engineeringsights.org/SightDetail.asp?Sightid=8&id=&view=k&name=&page=28&image=0
Read through Travel and Fate
July 17, 1850: Mile 761: Reshaw's Bridge (3 miles NE of Casper, Wyoming)
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/reshawsbridge.htm
http://www.nchistorical.info/trailinfo/reshaw.html
http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/reshaws-bridge
Travel and Fate
July 18, 1850: Mile 777: Poison Spring
http://www.oregonpioneers.com/Milepost3.htm
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/poisonspring.htm
http://www.oregonpioneers.com/OTLandmarks.htm
Travel and Fate
July 20, 1850: Mile 798: Alkali Slough
What is alkali? Where is it? What does it mean when it is in the water?
http://www.ehow.com/list_6137988_diseases-people-oregon-trail.html
Try a Fact Monster search: http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia.html
Travel and Fate
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July 22, 1850: Mile 814: Saleratus (Playa Lake)
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/saleratuslake.htm
July 22, 1850: Mile 814: Independence Rock
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/indeprock.htm
http://www.ultimatewyoming.com/sectionpages/sec5/extras/independencerock.html
http://www.independencerock.org/phototour.html
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1WA2_Oregon_Trail_Independence_Rock_Wyoming
Travel and Fate
July 23, 1850: Mile 820: Devil's Gate
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/devilsgate.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Gate_(Wyoming)
http://oregontrail101.com/00.n.devilsgate.html
Read through Travel and Fate #30
July 25, 1850: Miles 862: Ice Spring (9.5 miles east of Sweetwater Station, Wyoming)
http://www.octa-trails.org/learn/people_places/articles_ot_mile_posts.php
Read through Travel and Fate #31
July 30, 1850: Mile 713: South Pass
Crossing of the Continental Divide: We're halfway there!
http://www.nps.gov/oreg/historyculture/index.htm
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/trailsdemo/southpass.htm
http://www.thefurtrapper.com/historical_landmarks.htm
Travel and Fate #32
August 1, 1850: Mile 932: 9 miles NE of Farson, Wyoming
Trail Decision #2
Travel and Fate #33
August 2, 1850: Mile 940: (Little Sandy Crossing)
Read Travel and Fate #34
August 8-9, 1850: Mile 1046: Fort Bridger
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/ftbridger.htm
http://www.lds.org/gospellibrary/pioneer/33_Fort_Bridger.html
http://www.over-land.com/ftbridger.html
Travel and Fate #35
August 14, 1850: Mile 1108: Thomas Fork Crossing - Rejoining the trails sublette and Ft Bridger
(1.2 miles west of Border, Wyoming
http://www.oregontrailcenter.org/HistoricalTrails/LocalTrailLandmarks.htm
http://www.untraveledroad.com/USA/Idaho/BearLake/92NSign.htm
http://appliejuice.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/thomas-fork-crossing/
Journal entry: write about meeting up with wagon families who took the Sublette Shortcut.
Rejoice with refreshments and music! Bluegrass Midi Files
August 16, 1850: Mile 1154: Steamboat Spring (Soda Springs), Idaho
Soda Springs: http://www.sd01.k12.id.us/schools/riverside/oregon/soda.htm
http://www.idahohistory.net/OTsprings.html
http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/pathwaysofpioneers/SodaSprings.cfm
http://traildiary.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/entry-14-steamboat-springs/
Travel and Fate #37
Hot Springs and Geysers:
Hot Springs: http://www.soak.net/
Geysers: http://www.soak.net/
September 4, 1850: Mile 1217: Fort Hall
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/FtHall.html
http://www.anglerguide.com/articles/125b.html
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/fthall.htm
Travel and Fate #38
September 8, 1850: Mile 1250, Massacre Rocks
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Massacre.html
http://www.idahohistory.net/OTmrocks.html
Travel and Fate #39
September 20, 1850: Mile 1397: Three Island Crossing
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/3Island.html
http://www.idahoparks.org/parks/threeisland.html
http://www.wvi.com/users/TIC/tic.htm
Travel and Fate #40
September 30, 1850: Mile 1551: Farewell Bend
http://tomlaidlaw.com/clickable/farewell.html
http://www.nps.gov/whmi/educate/ortrtg/1or6.htm
Travel and Fate #40 (second one)
October 5, 1850: Mile 1633: Ladd Canyon Hill
http://tomlaidlaw.com/clickable/ladd.html
Travel and Fate #41
October 8, 1850: Mile 1671: Deadman's Pass
http://www.odot.state.or.us/ssbpublic/fleet/museum/ot/panel_v.htm
Travel and Fate #42
October 12, 1850: Mile 1709: Whitman Mission (Trail Decision #3)
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Whitman.html
The Final Leg of the Trail:
http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa21barlowrd.html
Barlow Toll Road:
http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/oregontrails/barlowcutoff.html
http://www.onthisdayinoregon.com/05_23.html
http://www.ohwy.com/or/b/barlowrd.htm
Travel and Fate #43
Summer of 1853: Williamette Valley - Wagon Train reunion
Claiming the Land:
http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa28claims.html
The Gold Rush and Oregon:
http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa30oregongold.html
Diaries and Stories:
http://intersect.uoregon.edu/ahs/resources/OregonTrailDiaries.htm
http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/biomenu.html
Travel and Fate..........a new life
Thanks to Mrs. Sumner for the use of her Oregon Trail plans!