An Orderly Wagon Train Migration

The Oregon trail is a very interesting part of American history. The class, having read or discussed the events leading to the westward expansion and settling of the Oregon Territory, can answer each of these fill-in-the-blank...

If you build it they can come. After reading a short article about the impact of western expansion, middle schoolers cite evidence from the article to explain how this expansion forced changes in transportation.

Students face a challenge. In this survival instructional activity, students discover the hardships faced by the pioneers who moved west and see if they would survive a similar situation. They discuss essential items they need to survive...

Students research the U.S. Westward movement. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students research the topic, complete a creative writing activity for the lesson plan, and a design activity for the lesson plan.

Students investigate what life on the Oregon Trail was like. In this Westward Movement instructional activity, students eat foods that were eaten by settlers on the trail as they read textbook pages about the trial. Students then draw an...

Read about the settling of Oregon country and how westward expansion prompted Congress to make it a territory.

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.

This site written by teachers provides lesson ideas and links to a number of topics related to the Oregon Trail.

Learn basic facts about the Oregon Trail and the early pioneers who used it in their move West.

Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...