Can you believe we only have a week and 1/2 left of Trimester 2? (Don’t forget Progress Reports are due!)
I (Sharon) may be dating myself, but one of my favorite memories from elementary school was going to the computer lab each week and playing Oregon Trail. I’m not sure I ever successfully made it to Oregon, either because my “family” always seemed to die of dysentery or simply because our computer period was not long enough to complete a game. Either way, I have fond memories and it really stuck with me. This week our students will be learning about Manifest Destiny, the push for westward expansion, and the Mexican-American War. Your kids can play the iconic Oregon Trail game as well. (This version is in full color! I had to explain to my kids that the version I played was just black and green.) Check out the links below and have a wonderful week as we begin to wrap up this trimester.
Resources Links:
The Oregon Trail Game | As promised – here is the link for the Oregon Trail game. Also, learn more about Oregon on this Oregon tourism website.
The Oregon Trail Interactive Map | Click on the map to learn about stops along the way.
Covered Wagon Coloring Page | Print out this picture of a “schooner” in a wagon train for your students to color.
Conestoga Wagons vs. Schooners | What’s the difference? This page explains and shows pictures. Check out the National Oregon/California Trail Center blog for more fun posts about the Oregon Trail.
Westward Expanse Crossword Puzzle | Have fun solving clues about the westward expansion.
Oregon Trail Tour | Read about the journey west and answer questions in the Westward Expansion Interactive Scavenger Hunt and the Oregon Trail Interactive Scavenger Hunt.
At Home on the Fringes of the Prairie | Explore early Illinois and meet the people who lived there.
Building a Sod House | Read about Life in a Sod House on the open prairie, and then play the game!
US Land Acquisitions Interactive Map | Click on a region to learn how and when it became a part of the United States.
Westward Expansion Primary Sources | Primary sources about the westward expansion from the Library of Congress.
The Mexican-American War | Learn about the war that led to the US acquisition of California.
James K. Polk | Our 11th president James K. Polk was in power during the Mexican-American War and much of the westward expansion.
Manifest Destiny | What is it and what was its impact?
Video Links:
*Parents, please preview for your students first.
Sound Smart: Manifest Destiny | A short History video about how the term Manifest Destiny came to be used.
The Oregon Trail: The Wild West | A cartoon depicting the trials of this trail.
Oregon Trail | A fun Mr. Bett’s class song about going to Oregon.
The Oregon Trail: Dreams, Disaster, and Conquering the West | A longer, more in-depth video about the Oregon Trail.
What Was the Mexican-American War? | A quick overview of this significant war in U.S. history.
How to Draw a Pioneer Wagon | Learn to draw your own schooner.
