Social Studies: The Oregon Trail

What were the hardships faced by those who traveled the Oregon Trail?

In what ways was life during the Oregon Trail movement similar to and different from life today?

The McKinley 3rd Grade team was interested in developing their students' collaboration, focus, and compare/contrast skills, all through the lens of the Oregon Trail. Through investigating articles and first-hand accounts, each class created their own journey on the trail using a Choose Your Own Adventure story creation model. The students used the source material to educate themselves and lay the groundwork of knowledge in order to create original stories. Some told their stories through tableaux and dialogue, another explored music from the mid-1800's, and another created an original poem depicting life on the Oregon Trail. In culmination, the classes shared their pieces for each other in a generous, focused sharing and exercised their compare/contrast muscles by discussing how their plays were similar and different.