DOCUMENT RESUME ED 442 130 CS 217 178 TITLE On the Oregon Trail. [Lesson Plan]. National Endowment for the Humanities (NFAH), Washington, SPONS AGENCY DC.; Council of the Great City Schools, Washington, DC.; MCI WorldCom, Arlington, VA. PUB DATE 2000-00-00 5p.; Also sponsored by the National Trust for the NOTE Humanities. AVAILABLE FROM For full text: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lessonplans.html. Non-Classroom (055) Guides PUB TYPE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Class Activities; Creative Writing; Intermediate Grades; DESCRIPTORS Junior High Schools; Language Arts; Lesson Plans; Photographs; Primary Sources; *United States History; Writing Assignments *Oregon Trail; Pioneer Life; *Westward Movement (United IDENTIFIERS States) ABSTRACT In this lesson, students work with primary documents and latter-day photographs to recapture the experience of traveling on the Oregon Trail. The learning objectives of the lesson are: (1) to learn about the pioneer experience on the Oregon Trail; (2) to evaluate a historical re-enactment in light of documentary evidence; and (3) to synthesize historical data through creative writing. The lesson plan also contains the subject areas covered in the lesson, time required to complete the lesson, the skills used in the lesson, the grade level (6-8), and lists of the standards developed by professional or government associations that are related to the lesson as well as activities to extend the lesson. (RS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. On the Oregon Trail [Lesson Plan]. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 2 BESTCOPYAVAI BLE wysiwyg://386/http://edsitementneh.gov/lessonplans/oregontrail.html E.. N0; mowoaultom MN@ REFERENCE SRA TEACHERS' LOUNGE 1dESSITN SUBJECT CATALDSUE [103B01Rir,,,,-13 AR I DT EOSITEMEN - - SUBJECT OHS t> Introduction Literature: Biography In this lesson, students work with primary documents and History: U.S.: Immigration/ latter-day photographs to recapture the experience of traveling on Migration the Oregon Trail. History: U.S.: The West E LEVELS i> GUI Learning Objectives 6-8 lOACII TO (1) To learn about the pioneer experience on the Oregon Trail. (2) Home To evaluate a historical re-enactment in light of documentary REGUERES Lesson Plans evidence. (3) To synthesize historical data through creative One to two class periods writing. SHILLS I> SEARCH EOSITEMENT Information gathering and Lesson Plan research primary document analysis Guiding Question: What was it like to travel West on the Oregon critical thinking Trail? historical analysis creative writing Begin by asking students to imagine that they are producing a movie on the Oregon Trail. Working in groups, they will write collaboration a scene for the movie that is historically accurate and based public speaking and presentation on the kinds of experiences emigrants actually encountered on Internet skills their way West. For background on these experiences, have students read a selection of the following memoirs, available through EDSITEment Websites: AilanlE9T t> Curriculum Standards for "Across the Plains in 1844" at New Perspectives on THE Social Studies Time, Continuity, and Change 2. WEST. (more) In Chapter One, Catherine Sager describes how she and her 3. People, Places, and siblings became orphans when their family made the journey Environments (more) to Oregon. Individuals, Groups, and S. Institutions (more) "Overland Trail Lore and Early Life" at American Memory. An interview that includes "Excerpts from the published national Geography reminiscences of James Meikle Sharp, who, at the age of Standards eight, crossed the plains with his mother and father in 9. The characteristics, 1852." distribution, and migration of human populations on earth's surface (n=) As a follow up to their reading, give each group a set of 12. The processes, patterns, and pictures showing a reenactment of the trek West on the functions of human Oregon Trail. The pictures below are available through settlement (more) 13. How the forces of cooperation EDSITEment at The Digital Classroom website. (Click picture for and conflict among people larger image.) Influence the division and control of earth's surface (more) 17. How to apply geography to Interpret the past (more) Standards for the English Language Arts Students read a wide range 1. of print and non print texts to build an iinderstandina of WRY nrtrav at inn BR no wysiwyg://386/http://edsitementneh.govnessonplans/oregon_trail.html texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; (more) 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. (more) Students employ a wide 5. range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately... (more) 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating Ideas and questions, and by posing problems. (more) 17. Students use a variety of Ask students to examine the pictures in light of their reading. technological and information For additional insight, have students visit The Oregon Trail resources...(more) website on EDSITEment, focusing on the pages listed below. (You can also provide print-outs of these pages in classrooms with limited Internet access.) Jumping Off: describes preparations for the 2,000 mile journey. Power: explains why emigrants chose mules or oxen to pull their wagons. Hardships: describes the physical risks of the journey fatigue, accidents, storms, disease, and dangerous river crossings. Camping: documents the daily routine of trail life. Invite students to comment on this reenactment in their role 4 as imaginary filmmakers. How does it compare to the scene they have in mind? Have each group suggest additional details that would accurately represent the emigrants' historical experience. Students might note, for example: The emigrants traveled in large caravans that stretched for miles over the plains. Most emigrants walked alongside their wagons, which were so packed with provisions that there was little room left inside. Unlike the 49er's, who were mainly men, the pioneers of the Oregon Trail traveled in family groups, including many women and children. Though many emigrants used mules like those shown in the pictures, records suggest that many more relied on oxen to pull their wagons across the plains. Emigrants typically took along herds of cattle to stock the farms they dreamed of starting in the Oregon Territory. Descriptions of the pioneers suggest that their wagons were practically bulging with provisions for the journey and furnishings for their Oregon homes. Descriptions of the great immigration also suggest that the trail itself was littered with broken equipment, discarded items, and all the other junk that thousands of travelers would typically leave in their wake. Encourage students to make imaginative use of this research as they work together in their groups to script a scene depicting an incident that could have occurred on the Oregon Trail. To provide them with a framework for their collaboration, create a worksheet based on the outline headings below. (For more technical filmscripting guidelines, visit the Cinema exhibit at the PYAVAOLABLE 4 2 of 3 wysiwyg://386/http://edsitement. neh.govilessonplans/oregon_trail.html Learner.Orq website on EDSITEment.) Location: Describe where your scene takes place. (Students can view modern-day pictures of "Historic Sites along the Trail" at The Oregon Trail website. For a more historical view, The Digital Classroom provides access to photographs taken by William Henry Jackson in 1870: Heading west from the North Platte River in Wyoming ; approaching Independence Rock; and traveling the plains along the Sweetwater River.) Casting: Describe the characters who appear in your scene mother, father, children, warrior, and the roles they play including "extras" who help provide a caravan leader, etc. backdrop for the action. Props: Describe the wagons, animals, and other items that a filmmaker would need to stage your scene. Action: Describe what happens in your scene, including any "special effects" and dialogue. Conclude the lesson by having each group "pitch" its scene to the class, as at a Hollywood production meeting. This could involve preparing storyboards for the scene's establishing shots and acting out parts of the action. Follow each presentation with a class critique of the scene's historical accuracy focusing both on elements that reflect the real experience of pioneers on the Oregon Trail and elements that take liberties with the historical record. Extending the Lesson Introduce students to the story of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, the first settlers to make the overland journey to Oregon. Extensive excerpts from Narcissa Whitman's diary are available through EDSITEment at the New Perspectives on THE WEST website, which also includes a synopsis of the Whitman's tragic experiences taken from the PBS documentary series, THE WEST. Invite students to contrast the emigrant experience with that of the 49er's who followed the Oregon Trail on their way to the goldfields of California. Reminiscences of gold rush days are available through EDSITEment at the New Perspectives on THE WEST website, in the "California as I Saw It" collection at American Memory, and at the California Gold Rush website. U.S. Department of Education ERIC Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) National Library of Education (NLE) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) NOTICE Reproduction Basis This document is covered by a signed "Reproduction Release (Blanket)" form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing all or classes of documents from its source organization and, therefore, does not require a "Specific Document" Release form. This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission to reproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, may be reproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Release form (either "Specific Document" or "Blanket"). EFF-089 (3/2000)