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Worksheet
Curated OER

Mountain Men

For Students 4th - 5th
In this history worksheet, students read a one page article about life on the Oregon trail and the fur traders and mountain men. Students then answer 4 essay questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons West

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine life on westward trails. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze textbook passages about life on the Oregon Trail and the motivations of the people who settled Oregon.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Oregon Trail

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss migration and reasons people came across the Oregon trail. Students create a time line of important events along the Oregon trail. A Historical Time Line is included for student use. Students work in small groups to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oregon Trail Cooking

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students compare differences between cooked and fresh greens. They realize how simplicity of recipe makes for easy travel on the Oregon Trail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Lit. 18: The Oregon Trail & Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders name the American Indian people by tribe who lived in the lands which the Oregon Trail traversed. They investigate and describe some impacts of western expansion upon the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Fantasy Story - Time Travel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students write a fantasy story about time traveling back to the time of the Oregon Trail. In this Oregon trail lesson plan students gather information from their Social Studies textbook about life during the time of the Oregon Trail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Ho: The Difficulties of Emigrants Moving West

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart showing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore U.S. history by researching the Oregon Trail. In this American exploration lesson, students read the story On the Shore of the River and define the exact path early settlers took to find the state of Oregon. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bound for Oregon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers engage in a novel study using the layered curriculum style of unit. The unit has many different types of activities that have different ratings of difficulty. This allows for a great deal of differentiation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Western Expansion and Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research the Oregon, Old Spanish, California, and Mormon trails, and the impact western expansion had on the Native Americans living on those lands.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trade and Travel on the Overland Trails

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students compare and contrast trade routes. In this trade route lesson, students explore the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe trail. Students compare and contrast the purposes for these trails.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Westward Movement

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students, working in groups, research and write about one of the trails that were used during US Westward Movement. They create a travel brochure for their trail keeping in mind the era in which the travel took place.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Trails

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. In this west coast geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students define...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mormon Trail and Native Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify the American Indian tribes who lived in the lands that the Mormon Trail went through. They investigate and describe the impact of western expansion on the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Education On The Trail

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explain the unique experience of pioneer studenT education on the trail. They invent ways to provide schooling to pioneer students while they were on the trail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Trail

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify major geographical features shown on the core map, explain map symbols used on the core map, create a picture of the condition of the trail in the 1840s, and construct a chart of average temperatures and rainfall.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Fantasy Story - Time Travel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils write a fantasy story about travelling back in time to the period of the Oregon Trail. They conduct research and take notes about the Oregon Trail, and write a first and a final draft of their short story about their visit to the...
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Who Wants to be a Pioneer?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a story based on their research of the Oregon Trail. Using the Internet and traditional sources, they engage in research about pioneer's experiences on the Oregon Trail during westward expansion. Students write a story...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Influences of Black Oregon Trail Settlers

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils discuss reasons settlers settled in the Oregon Territory. Then, through the examination of primary documents, they compare the influences upon black settlers and how those influences were important to the settlement of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Internet Challenge Worksheet

For Teachers 4th - 7th
In this Internet usage worksheet, students navigate to a specific search engine website and enter the word "Oregon Trail". Students then answer 7 questions based on their results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the significant events in America's history. Students listen to a variety of books based on significant historical events in America. Students divide into 6 groups, each of which is responsible for researching...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Go West, Young Man!"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine reasons why people migrated west. They describe how the geography of the U.S. changed in the 19 th century and design a PowerPoint presentation to convey factors for westward expansion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oregon City: A Convergence of Endings

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners describe the activities that occurred in the Willamette Valley before the establishment of the Oregon Trail and agricultural settlement and explain the impact that American settlement had on the landscape and native groups who...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the components of the Westward Movement in the United States. Understanding the past and the linkages it has to the present is the intended goal of this seventeen day unit.