OREGON TRAIL WEBQUEST By Mike Tietz Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page

Introduction Between 1840 and 1860, thousands of people packed up their things and headed west. The majority of the people gathered in Independence, Missouri where the Oregon Trail began. These people were going into rough territory in search of a better life for them and their families. Some people were looking to settle on land that they could own for a very reasonable price. Still others were in search of riches by digging for gold that was reported in the new state of California. Whatever the case, people traveled the Oregon Trail toward the west coast of the United States. If it were not for this rough, rugged, and well traveled trail, we may not have many people living in the states on the west coast or the states that these settlers had to travel through to get there. Traveling the trail was extremely difficult. Many had to walk the 2000 miles barefoot. One out of every ten people who traveled the trail died. Most people seem to think that these people were killed by hostile Native Americans, but it wasn’t that at all. In fact most of the Native Americans that the settlers met along the trail were helpful and kind. The most common causes of death were Cholera, Small Pox, unsanitary conditions, and even accidental gunshots. “The Great Migration” west started in 1843 when approximately 1000 settlers traveled the trail. Over the next 25 years more than half a million people traveled this famous route. The glory years of the Oregon Trail ended in 1869 when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed. Actual tracks from wagons of long ago can still be seen today. These wagon tracks are a symbol, a symbol of hope, of sadness, and of a great movement to the uncharted land of our western coast. Introduction to the Oregon Trail Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page

Task Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page You live in Boonville, Missouri in the year You have decided to pack up and move to Oregon. You believe that there will be a better life waiting in Oregon, and so you plan to travel the Oregon Trail. Your neighbor wants to go, but they are nervous about the journey. They ask you to write a letter back to them when you arrive in Oregon, telling them about your trip. You have completed the trail, it only took 6 months, and now you are going to write a letter to your neighbor about your travels. The letter needs to include the following: 1. Tell about what kind of transportation you used while traveling the trail. 2. Tell about life on the trail. A. Things that were good while on the trail. B. Things that were bad while on the trail. 3. Tell about what your new life in Oregon City.

Process Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page STEP 1: Researching 1. Research the Transportation. 2. Research Life on the trail. Good TimesBad Times 3. Research Oregon City in the 1850’s and 1860’s. Wagons Prairie Schooners Emigrant and Conestoga Other TrafficWeird Wagons How did they Travel? Sights Are We There Yet? Buffalo DungThe Trail Hardships Camping Life and Death Buried Alive! Stress and Illness Dangers The City on Willamette Falls Oregon in 1845 Oregon Fever The Flood Free Farm? Why should we go West? End of the Trail Process Step 2 Completing the Task Great Gateway Power to Haul

Process Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page STEP 2: Completing the Task 4. Write the rough draft of your letter. Remember that you want your neighbor to fully understand the risks and rewards of traveling to Oregon. 6. Proofread and revise your letter. 7. Type your final draft of your letter. Process Step 1 Researching Type your final letter here.

Conclusion Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation Next Page As you can see from the research you have done, traveling the Oregon Trail was not always a fun trip west with your whole family. For some it was the most miserable experience they had ever encountered. On the other hand, the rewards of getting a brand new piece of land, and using that land to start a new life could have been worth the trouble, and for some, it was. We are only able to learn about this great period in history because of the thousands of personal diaries and journals that were left behind. In fact, only the Civil War produced more firsthand accounts of what happened. Thanks to our ancestors, we are able to imagine and experience what they went through. We need to thank them. Thank them for giving us such a vivid picture of all of the struggles and joys that they experienced. We also need to thank them for traveling west in a little wagon with all of their possessions. For if these many people had not undertaken such a great task, we might not know what wonderful things lie through a desert, over a mountain range, and next to a great ocean.

Evaluation Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation This is how you will be graded on this project. Topic 50 Points 35 Points 15 Points 0 Points TransportationLetter includes descriptive details about both the animals and the wagons that were used. Letter includes some details about the animals OR wagon, but is not very descriptive. Letter mentions the animals or wagons used but has no details. Not Included Life on the Trail Good and Bad Letter includes detailed examples on how life could be good and how it could be bad while on the trail. Letter includes examples of how life can be good OR bad, but is not very descriptive. Letter mentions life on the trail but has no specific details or descriptions. Not Included Life in Oregon in the 1850’s Letter includes detailed descriptions about what life was like in Oregon during the 1850’s. Letter includes some Details about what life was like in Oregon in the 1850’s, but is not very descriptive. Letter mentions life in Oregon in the 1850’s but has not details or descriptions. Not Included Decision on whether or not to go Letter includes a Detailed description about your final decision on whether or not to go on the trip with your neighbor. Letter includes some details about your final decision on whether or not to go on the trip with your neighbor, but is not very descriptive. Letter mentions your final decision on whether or not to go on the trip with your neighbor. Not Included Grading Scale

Evaluation Introduction Task ProcessConclusionEvaluation This is the Grading Scale for the project: points—A points—C points—D points—A points—C 59 points and below—F points—B points—C points—B points—D points—B points—D Individual Student Evaluation Sheets (For the Teacher)