Write a Story
Overview:
- Finish Westward to Home: Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary
- Arriving in Oregon City
- Culminating Activity: Oregon Trail Story
Materials:
- Westward to Home: Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary
- White board marker
Procedures:
Read the remaining pages in the book Westward to Home: Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary.
Arriving In Oregon City:
Tell students that those who survived the six moth journey finally arrived in Oregon City!
In Oregon City the emigrants spread out, staked their land and begin their new lives. The government gave 640 acres of lush Willamette valley farmland to every male citizen.
Culminating Activity:
Tell the students that they are going to write a story, where they imagine that they are a child or adult going on the Oregon Trail and they describe what life is like on the journey.
They should create a new identity for themselves.
This would include an old fashioned name, age, occupation, and family.
In their story they need to write about their experience with everything we learned about throughout the week: (Write these on the white board)
Why they decided to go on the Oregon Trail
How their journey started
What life is like on the journey (food/camping)
Hardships they go through
Interactions with Native Americans
Landmarks
Arriving in Oregon City
Students can use their INB to help them remember details on all of the above details.
ESOL Accommodations: Help ESOL students with their story.
Sources:
Information: www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/education-teachers-packets.php
