Overland Trails To The West Don Dunham Junction Elementary Palo Cedro, CA

Overland Trails To The West My name is Don Dunham and I am a Fifth Grade teacher at Junction Elementary. My web site is You may me at This is a Fifth grade History/Social Science lesson (Standard 5.8) on settlers on the overland trails to the west in the mid-1800’s. The students will research the trails west. They will create a 4 day journal and a map on one of the trails west.

Expectations To develop a web page. To increase my own computer skills. To learn a new way to develop student lessons.

Actual Learning Skills Learned to create a standard based lesson. Learned to create a web site. Learned to use power point in a presentation. Learned to develop web links. Learned to use Leech to upload information. Learned to use the internet as a resource.

Successes Creating a map that students are able to use to travel the trails Students enjoyed using the web site Students liked using the links Allowed students to work independently or with a partner

Successes continued Students were able to access the information correctly from the map Students enjoyed traveling on the map and reading about the early formations of the trails Students formed wagon trains to discuss what they learned on the same trail

Shortcomings Limited computers available One of the links would lock up on the Oregon Trail Students had difficulty keeping track of information Students had trouble completing their journals because they did not keep accurate information from the research

Student Data I administered a pre-test and post-test. The students were also required to complete a map and a final project journal that was evaluated using the scoring rubric. Students demonstrated improvement, but not to the extent I had anticipated.

Student Data Pre-test/Post-test scores

Student Data Map and Project Journal Scores

Reflections and Revisions Students did not have enough background information to help in writing journals. Students had difficulty keeping track of the information on each trail. Students need to read the text book pages , before going on to the research. Students needed to have a recording sheet for each of the trails to keep notes.

Reflections and Revisions Students had difficulty completing the K-W-L chart. Students were unfamiliar with the map and the places on the map. Students had difficulty drawing their trail on to a map. Students needed to study the trails map before starting their travels. Students needed to revisit the K-W-L- chart at the conclusion of each travel day to write their reflections. Students needed a map that looks like the web page map and they needed more time (1 hour) to use the web page map to draw from.

Summary The technology helped my students to learn best through their own exploration. The culminating activity offered the students different ways to show what they had learned and to do it in a learning style that was best for them. Being able to use the map and links to information gave the students opportunities to be choose what they wanted to learn most about. Their projects did show a clear proficiency with the standard of this project. Not all students gave their best effort in all areas of the project but they did master knowledge of the the trails west.

Concluding Statements Students enjoyed the process of learning with the web page. Students were able to choose working individually or in pairs to complete their journals and maps.

Final Look These students show their completed work for each of the assessment areas. Final project, trail map, and post-test.