Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Westward Expansion the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about traveling along the Oregon Trail during the Westward Expansion. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Graphic
Bob Dunn

History Globe: The Oregon Trail: 1843 Map

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take a virtual tour of the historic Oregon Trail and see photos of the landmarks along the way. Compare the map of 1843 with a modern map of today.
Lesson Plan
Lin and Don Donn

Lin and Don Donn: American History: Oregon Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site written by teachers provides lesson ideas and links to a number of topics related to the Oregon Trail.
Website
Organization for Community Networks

Academy Curricular Exchange: Simulation Oregon Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A fascinating lesson plan depicting life in the mid 1800's and comparing it to modern day life.
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PBS

New Perspectives on the West: The Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from PBS provides a map of the Oregon Trail, from Independence, Missouri to the Willamette Valley.
Activity
Other

Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Graphic
Curated OER

Bureau of Land Management: Oregon Trail Map [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
A map of the Oregon Trail and some of its branches.
Interactive
University of Richmond

American Panorama: The Overland Trails 1840 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive map highlights the emigrations of men and women over the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails in the 1840s and 50s. Also features a timeline of migration, diary entries from individual migrants, and a flow map showing how...
Website
Ancestry

Oregon Pioneer Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a comprehensive list of well known Oregon pioneers. Click on a name to read the story of their early settlement and the experiences this held for them.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Oregon

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site provides facts on the state of Oregon. Did you know there used to be a volcano in Oregon?
Graphic
Curated OER

Oregon Trail

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Oregon trail
Graphic
Curated OER

Oregon Trail

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Oregon trail
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Merica's Story: Oregon Territory

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read about the settling of Oregon country and how westward expansion prompted Congress to make it a territory.
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Oregon Trail and Other Routes, 1832 1842

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of western North America between the opening of the Oregon Trail in 1832 to 1842, prior to the establishment of the Provisional Government of Oregon by American settlers in 1843. The map shows the boundary of the Oregon Country,...
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming: Oregon Trail Ruts

For Students 9th - 10th
One half mile long section of Oregon Trail, worn 2-6 feet into sandstone ridge.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: 54 40 or Fight

For Students 5th - 8th
See how James Polk's plan to claim the Oregon Territory, which had been shared with Great Britain since 1818, led him to victory with the slogan, Fifty-four forty or fight. Read about the settlers who traveled the Oregon Trail and why...
Graphic
Sacramento Bee

Sac Bee: The Journey by Land

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses where people came from and the many routes that were taken to get to California. Many traveled the Mormon and Oregon Trails.
Primary
Other

Emigrant Wagons Roll Westward

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource is an excerpt from the memoirs of David Arthur of his traveling to Oregon by wagon train with his parents. It was originally published in an Oregon newspaper in 1889.
Activity
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Marie Dorion

For Students 9th - 10th
A biographic view of the life of Marie Dorion. As a young Native American woman, she led white men to the Oregon Territory. She was only 24 years old and was pregnant at the time. Her actions made her a symbol of bravery and endurance!
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Santa Fe and Oregon Trails to the Pacific Coast, 1840 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the western United States in 1840-1850 showing the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe, the two principal overland routes from Independence, Missouri, to the western territories and the Pacific. The map shows the territory boundaries,...
Website
Other

U.s. Route 40: History of Route 40

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of U.S. Route 40, including the development of predecessor roads such as colonial roads, the national road, pioneer trails, and various highways.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Oregon Controversy, 1792 1846

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the Oregon Territory between the time of exploration by George Vancouver (1792) and the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The map is color-coded to show the disputed claims of the British and United States, the Russian American line of...
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Oregon Controversy, 1792 1846

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the Oregon Territory between the time of exploration by George Vancouver (1792) and the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The map is color-coded to show the disputed claims of the British and United States, the Russian American line of...
Website
PBS

Pbs: New Perspectives on the West

For Students 9th - 10th
This in-depth resource presents a history of the American West from pre-Columbian times until World War I with profiles, documents, and images. It encourages visitors to link these into patterns of historical meaning for themselves....

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