Process

Part 1: Why d'ya wanna move?

Westward Expansion in America

There are several reasons why people chose to move out west. You will learn more about these reasons.

1. Read Why Move West? to learn about why you might want to move.

2. After reading the article, decide which four reasons are most important to you.

3. Fill out Reasons to Move West. Ma will give you a paper copy. You will include this in your presentation. It is very important for your work to be informative, organized, and neat.

Part 2: How ya gonna git thar?

You have learned why so many people decided to leave their homes, uproot their families, and head out to move west. Now you will learn more about the journey west.

Most people traveling west went by way of the Oregon Trail. The travelers of the Oregon Trail had to overcome many tough situations along their journey.

Today you will plan your journey west from Missouri to Oregon. All you have is this map of the USA that Ma will give you, but it is missing A LOT of information. Here is what you need to add so that your map is usable:

Draw the Oregon Trail in RED.
Trace the rivers you will have to cross and write their names in BLUE.
Shade and label the mountain range you will pass through in BROWN.
Shade and label the Native American lands you will pass through in in GREEN.
Mark and label four forts where you can get more supplies in ORANGE.
- On the back, explain why you want to stop at each fort.
Mark and label four Landmarks in PURPLE.
- On the back, explain what is important about each landmark.

Don’t forget how important this map will be on your journey. Make sure that it is neat and accurate - you wouldn't want to get lost in the unknown wilderness! The information your write on the back of your map will also be incredibly helpful to you on your journey.

Here are links to help you make your map and fill out the back:

Trails Map

Native American Lands

Forts Along the Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail Landmarks

Part 3: Whut will life be like?

You have learned about why settlers chose to move and the Oregon Trail, but there is still more you need to know! When folks decided to move, they often did not realize the obstacles and hardships they would face. You will find out about what hardships pioneers encountered while traveling and settling out west - and then you will make a plan for how to handle these problems.

If you decide to move, there are countless problems that your family might encounter. Read the four articles below to find out what these problems might be. Choose five major problems you will face, and decide how you will solve them. Fill in the Problem/Solution Organizer that Ma will give you. You will take this on your journey, to help your new life go as smoothly as possible.

SITES TO VISIT

Jumping Off - Starting the Journey

Hardships

Camping

Native Americans

Part 4: Buildin' yer home

You have learned a lot about the obstacles and hardships that faced the pioneers and homesteaders. Another obstacle you will face is building a home. Today you will need to answer another VERY importable question:

How do you build a house without much wood?

Visit the following sites to add to your knowledge:

History of a Sodbuster

Building a Sod House

Prairie Sod Houses

Living in a Sod House

Using the information from all of these websites, you will write and diagram directions for building a sod home. Fill out How to Build a Sod Home - Ma will give it to ya.

Directions:

- Organize your directions into six steps.

- Each step should include written directions and a color diagram.

- Your directions need to be clear and specific - so that they will be as helpful as possible if you need them to build your home!

Part 5: Problem solvin' gadgets

You have been learning about what life would be like for you and your family as pioneers out west. You may have to endure many hardships such as the blazing heat, droughts, prairie fires, tight soil, torrential rains, perilous blizzards, and plagues of insects.

In light of these hardships, new methods and inventions have been invented! These advances vastly affected life, and helped make the West more livable.

Technological Advancements

Windmills

Searching for Water, Wells and Windmills

Pioneer Tools: Planting and Harvesting

Barbed Wire

Ma has some questions for you about the newfangled technology. Answer these questions on Newfangled Gadgets: How Will They Help Us? - Ma will give it to you.

Part 6: Grasshoppers!

In addition to all of the challenges that you have already learned about, insect plagues were a huge hardship for settlers out west. Grasshoppers and locust swarms could be catastrophic!

Today you will learn about the anatomy of grasshoppers and the extent their destruction had on the pioneers' lives. One of the sites listed below will take you to an anatomy page of the grasshopper. The other sites will help you understand the grasshoppers' destruction.

What you will do today:

1. Ma will give you a Grasshopper Guide. Use this Anatomy Diagram to help you label the parts of the grasshopper. This is not easy and will take quite a bit of attention to detail. After labeling the grasshopper's anatomy, color it to look like a Rocky Mountain Locust. Use the link to color this species correctly.

2. Use the sites below to answer the questions on the Grasshopper Guide, using complete sentences.

Grasshopper Plague of 1874

Grasshopper Facts

Grasslands Biome

Part 7: It's yur decision time!

Today you will make a very important decision for your family:

Wagons Ho! or Wagons No Go!

- Look over all of your artifacts from Parts 1 - 6. Use what you have learned to make a knowledgeable decision.

- Complete the front cover of your packet, which Ma will give you. You will state and explain three reasons why you have decided to move, or to stay. Make sure to explain each reason thoroughly, using what you have learned!

When you finish, make your packet.

Your packet must have:

- The decision page you made today. This is the first page of your packet.

- Behind your decision page, put all the work that you have done in this order:

1. Reasons to Move

2. Oregon Trail Map

3. Problem/Solution Organizer

4. Sod House

5. Newfangled Gadgets

6. Grasshopper Guide

- Staple it together (one staple, top left corner)

Part 8: Preparin' for Yer Presentation!

Your presentation:

You are presenting to your Ma and your neighbors, telling them whether you've decided to move West or not, and why. You will create note cards to help you prepare for your presentation.

- Introduction: who you are and your decision: "Wagons Ho" or "Wagons No Go".

- The three reasons why you have or have not decided to move your family West. Explain your reasons, showing off your vast knowledge.

- Conclusion: end your presentation by restating your decision and thanking your audience for their attention.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

- You should not read directly from your note cards during your presentation, but you may use them to help you.

- Practice speaking loudly and clearly. Practice eye contact and holding still. Practicing in front of a mirror can really help.

Part 9: Well? Today is the day! Tell Us! What'd ya' decide?

Today you will be sharing your presentation with Ma and your neighbors!

Wagons Ho!!

Wagons No Go!!

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