The first week of this project the students will be introduced to the Oregon Trail and learn about the pioneers. Each student will play the role as a pioneer and will pick a person from the Oregon Trail whose identity they will become. During this lesson the students will make decisions and journal entries based on the point of view of their new identity.
Day 1:
Once the students have taken on a new identity as an Oregon Trail pioneer they will set up a project blog where all of the activities throughout the journey will be posted. This is what I will be grading at the end of the unit. We will go over how to create a blog in class but if your students have any questions refer to the example blog to see how your project should be set up on your blog and to answer any questions you have http://oregontrailexample.blogspot.com/.
Questions To Talk About: Talk with your child about the new identity that they chose for this project. Also, discuss how their life would be different if they were growing up on the Oregon Trail.
Day 2:
Today the students will learn about the Wagon Trains and what it was like to travel in such a small space. The pioneers had a limit amount of room so only the necessities were brought on this journey. The students will be given a supply list and 1000 BMUs (bulk weight units) to spend before they leave on the trail.
Questions To Talk About: Ask your child what they brought with them on the wagon and what they would have to leave behind. You can ask them why they think those supplies are more important then some of the things they will have to leave behind. Also, discuss any choices that they've had to make in their own life that required them to give up something.
Day 3:
Questions To Talk About:
Students will be making a blog post that is a journal entry from the pioneer's point of view. These are the ideas I want them to include in their entry: expectations for your journey, if they are nervous or excited, what they think they'll encounter along the way, do they feel prepared for the journey, and their thoughts about leaving their home in order to take this journey.
Day 4:
Today students will be learning about two forts along the Oregon Trail. The wagon trains will be able to purchase fAsood, more supplies, and use a mail service at most forts along the way. They will spend one day here before moving towards the next stop at Fort Laramie. When leaving this fort the wagon trains come across a river and they must decide what to do. I will give them two scenarios and they have to chose which one they would rather do.
Questions To Talk About: Ask your child which scenario their wagon train chose. Ask them why they decided on the scenario that they did. Discuss the good and bad outcomes that come with the route that they chose.
Day 5:
Each Friday the students will be able to pick one project from the following list that they want to complete: Life Along The Journey, A Day In The Life, Trail Hardships, Moving West, and Weather and Disease.
Questions To Talk About: Talk to your child about the project that they chose to do and the reasons why they chose it. Ask them what they liked about this project and what they didn't like. Discuss with your child what project they hope to do next week and why.