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?
