Go West and Grow Up With the Country!

This week has been all about moving Westward!

On Tuesday, students were asked if they would stay in Maryland or move to Oregon given a variety of both positive and negative information about the mid to late 1800's. We read and annotated text and watched videos that described the dangers and the rewards of traveling the Oregon Trail. 

On Wednesday, despite the fact that most students wished to stay in the East, we began to prepare to move West. In each of my classes, students were divided into one of five families. Each family was allowed to choose a last name and each student was allowed to select a first name, all of which are based on names common during that time.  Then, hoping to make some additional money for their journey, families competed in a recipe contest. Each family had to use ingredients that pioneers would have used to create a winning recipe. The winning recipes, determined by votes, were worth $50 and used to help buy necessary supplies for their coming journey.

On Thursday and Friday, we began our trip West by playing the first two rounds of a live-action version of the classic game "Oregon Trail" that I modified and tweaked for use in my classroom.

We began with students, working in their assigned families, selecting professions that were necessary for their success when traveling the trail and their lives in Oregon. Then, families were asked to make a series of decisions, using what they had learned and the money they had, to decide the type of wagon, animals, and amount of food to bring. After deciding to leave in the spring, we were off! Sadly, at the very first river crossing we have already had some casualties. As we continued our progression, we experienced highs and lows. Dysentery and cholera have plagued some families, there have been damaged wagons and lost animals. We have seen natural landmarks, reached necessary checkpoints, and traded with fellow travelers and indigenous people. We are more than half way through our journey and despite the remaining challenges and the unknown future, all families have hope that they will successfully reach Oregon.