Name The Covered Wagon Adventure (Note: The websites listed at the end of this Project have been checked for appropriateness as well as existence as of 9/24/07 -sb) 1. Introduction - Many families decided to move west in the 1800s for a better life, to pursue a different religion, or to try to make a fortune in gold. You will be part of one of those families. Your family will make a decision to be part of a wagon train, after considering the pros and cons of traveling with one. At the end of this activity you will have decided which route to take, planned your trip right down to the day you leave and the items you will bring, and have gone through many hardships and sacrifices. I hope you are up to the challenge! 2. Task - Your first task will be to decide who the members of your family are and to select a family name. Next, you will decide which route you will take, depending on your reasons for moving west. Then you will research covered wagons and build a replica (small model) of one. Then, you will decide what items you will take in the wagon and what items you must leave behind. Finally, all the covered wagons will line up to simulate a wagon train, while presenting your findings to others. You will also record your trip west in a scrapbook that contains journal entries, letters, drawings, etc. a. Research family names from the 1800s and also find out what members there are in your family, which represents a realistic family traveling west. (For example, a bunch of teenagers would not be making this trip together.) b. Decide what your reasons for traveling west are. Do you want to go for religious reasons? To search for gold? To find a better way of life farming in good soil? c. Before you can build your covered wagon, you must learn that there were different types of wagons. Decide what type of wagon your family would bring. d. Build your wagon using a milk carton as the base. Materials will be in the classroom that you need for the wheels, canvas cover, etc. e. You will have to make decisions on what items your family will pack in the covered wagon and what they must sadly leave behind. f. You will create a scrapbook of your trip west by following the outline below. There are many ways to make your paper look old: you could spill a little coffee on it to stain it, crumple it a little, tear the edges, or lightly color the paper with a light brown colored pencil. Include the following in your journal: Scrapbook: 1 -- Send a letter (#1) to a friend or family member that you are leaving behind. Include reasons why you are leaving, where you are going, what items you have decided to take and what you sadly have to leave behind. Also include how long you predict this journey will take. Be sure to date the letter! Our wagon train is leaving on April 1, 1849. You will mail your letter from Independence, Missouri, where the wagon train will leave. 2 -- Write a journal entry (#2) after passing a famous landmark. Describe the landmark; include where it is, and how you feel about seeing it. 3 -- Write a journal entry (#3) about how things are going so far with the wagon train. Include one good thing and one bad thing that have happened with the wagon train so far. Include why teamwork is important. 4 -- You were inspired by a hardship of some kind that you experienced (river crossing, accident, bad weather, transportation problem, etc.). Write a free verse poem (#4) about the experience and draw a picture of it. 5 -- Write a journal (#5) entry after stopping at a trading post. Include what you bought there. You may include a souvenir of something from the trading post to tape into your scrapbook. Draw a picture of the trading post, too. 6 -- Write a journal (#6) entry about how hot the weather is and how uncomfortable and dirty you feel. Include how you have been bathing and washing clothes. 7 -- Write a journal entry (#7) about an evening meal. Include what it was, how you liked it, and what you did after dinner. This could be something you do on your own or with other members of your family or the wagon train. 8 -- Write a journal entry (#8) about an illness someone in your family experiences. Describe the illness, what you did for it, and what the outcome was. 9 -- You have arrived! Write a letter (#9) to someone back home telling of your feelings. Include if you think the trip was worth it. Draw a picture of what you see when you arrive to include in the letter. 10 -- Decorate the cover of your scrapbook (#10). We will do this part in class. Bring in a brown paper bag for the cover to make it look authentic. We will assemble these in class. Internet Resources for the Wagon Adventure Resources - Use the following sites to help you find the information you will need: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/6400/ (This site has a little of everything, including forts.) http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/6470/ (Pioneer life, including bathing and food) http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html (The Oregon Trail - supplies, the route, hardships, food, historic sites, etc.) http://www.calgoldrush.com/ (California Gold Rush and general info on westward travel) http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Pioneers.html (Has all U.S. history, including pioneers) http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/mormtrl.htm (The Mormon Trail) http://www.mtn-meadows-assoc.com/old_spanish_trail_.htm (The Old Spanish Trail) http://www.hfac.uh.edu/gl/west16.htm (Trading Post) http://endoftheoregontrail.org/ (Oregon Trail) http://endoftheoregontrail.org/biomenu.html (Pioneer biographies, includes names) Evaluation - You will be evaluated on your covered wagon replica, your scrapbook, the accuracy of your research, the vocabulary you use in your scrapbook, and classroom cooperation. A rubric will be used for grading. Reflections - When this unit is over, you will know much about the various reasons Americans moved west and the obstacles they faced. Next we will explore reasons why people from other countries came to America and the hardships they faced. Something to think about: Even today, can you think of someone who moved from one place in this country to another place in this country for a better life? Did they have to make sacrifices, leave things (or friends) behind, and start over?