JOURNEYING ON THE OREGON TRAIL

Do you have what it takes to make the journey?

Using the West People used the west for different reasons.

Use section 2 of chapter 13 to explore two of these groups.

Financial Gain Who was John Jacob Astor, and what made him the

richest man in America? What were the name of the men who collected fur

for Astor, and what were their living conditions like?

Spreading of Religion What was the purpose of missionaries moving west?

You have decided to try your luck west.

You have decided to journey west. You will be writing from the perspective of

a pioneer who is keeping a journal of your trek west.

All of your answers, and observations will be written down as if they are entries in your travel journal.

Jumping off point

Every journey has a beginning, Jumping off points were where pioneers went to buy supplies and join wagon trains to begin their journey.

Use the information found at this website to create a journal entry of what you would see at one of these jumping off towns (at least 2 sentences).

http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Jumpingoff.html

What to take with you?

You only had so much room, and you had to try to bring enough supplies to last as many months as possible.

Describe in your journal what are some supplies that your family is brining for your trip.

Describe two personal items that you would bring.

Remember, you are imagining that you are a pioneer from Oregon trail period.

http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/supplies.htm

What will your wagon look like?

Pioneers would pile all of there belongings and supplies into a wagon to help transport their belongings and supplies west.

Use this website to learn more about what a covered wagon looked like.

Use what you have learned to describe in your journal what your wagon looks like.

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/supplies.html

Hardships along the way

Walking 2,000 miles was the easy part. Pioneers had to deal with many hardships

as they made their way west. Using the website below create a journal

entry describing two hardships that your party might face while making your trek. (2 sentences each)

http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Hardships.html

At the end of the trail

You have survived the trail Look at page 451 in your textbook, and

learn more about what life was like once you reached the west.

Write a final journal entry about what you life might be like now that you have reached the west. (at least 2 sentences)

Think back to the beginning

Who was John Jacob Astor, and what made him the richest man in America?

What were the name of the men who collected fur for Astor, and what were their living conditions like?

What were missionaries purpose for moving west?

Knowing what you know now, would you move to the west? Do you think the potential gains outweigh the hazardous traveling conditions? Explain your reasoning.

What life was like

Now that you are finished, please take the a day in the life quiz.

http://pbskids.org/stantonanthony/frontier_girl.html