1. Oregon Trail Scenario

2. WELCOME!
You have made the decision to leave your home, pack everything you own into a small prairie schooner and head west. This was a big decision on your part because you have no real idea of what is going to happen to you before you get to Oregon. You have heard many stories about the long, arduous Oregon Trial--Native Americans, disease, snakes, too little water, too much water, raging rivers, narrow mountain passes. On the other hand, you have also heard about Oregon’s rich, green valleys and its vast, un-crowded land.

3. Journal Entry #1
Entry #1 – You are leaving Independence, Missouri. The date is April 1, Write about your hopes, dreams, wishes, and possible fears about the journey. Describe in detail other members of your wagon train and family.

4. At the beginning of the trail, you are healthy, your spirits are high, your animals are well-fed and healthy, your wagons are in good repair, and you have the maximum amount of supplies you can carry. You start out with 100 points.
Beginning points
100

5. Water is going to be very vital for your survival and the survival of your animals. Since there hasn’t been much rain this spring, the water you have brought with you has become crucially important. Add 5 points for each water barrel you brought. Subtract 10 points if you did not pack any water barrels.
I’m so thirsty 

6. When you stop the first evening to prepare your meal, you need to have firewood in order to cook your food. Add 5 points if you brought a wood box full of wood. If you did not pack a wood box, you now have to take time to search for wood. Subtract 5 points if you did not pack a wood box and subtract 5 points if you didn’t bring an axe.

7. You decided to take a short cut through sacred Native American burial ground and once you are on the trail there is no way to get around these burial grounds. You are scared and use your mothers necklace to remind you of home. Add 5 points if you packed a family heirloom subtract 5 if not.

8. You’ve been on the trail now for 2 weeks with nothing much to see but miles and miles of prairie. To avoid going stir crazy, you decide to pass some of the time playing music. Add 10 points if you packed a guitar, fiddle, or a piano. Subtract 5 points if you did not pack a musical instrument.

9. The land through the Indian burial grounds is very dry and your water is running low. Subtract 5 points for using up one barrel of water. You also need to subtract 1 water barrel from your collection of barrels.

10. A group of Indians stop you as you travel through their burial grounds, and they are not happy. You offer them a mirror as a sign of friendship which they accept. Add 5 points if you packed a mirror. Subtract 5 points if you did not. 3b

11. You made it out of the burial grounds alive
You made it out of the burial grounds alive!. Add 10 Points for surviving!

12. A fellow traveler named Britney Spears has eaten all of her bacon and breaks into your wagon at night to steal some of your food. Subtract 5 points for the loss of your food and subtract 25 lbs of any food item.
BACON

13. Journal Entry #2
Entry #2 – You are three weeks into trip. You have traveled about 300 miles. Describe your health and physical condition. Have there been any hardships? Have you met people along the way? If so, what happened? Are you still pleased with your decision to make the trip? Why or why not

14. While cooking a meal, you trip over a stone and land in the fire
While cooking a meal, you trip over a stone and land in the fire. Add 10 points if you have a first aid kit. Subtract 10 if you do not have a first aid kit.

15. You reach an area of prairie in which the grass has been clipped clean for miles around. If you are not carrying animal feed for your animals, they will become weak. Subtract 15 points for not having animal feed. Add 15 points if you packed animal feed

16. A member of your wagon train has given birth to a baby
A member of your wagon train has given birth to a baby! Add 10 points if you packed a baby cradle!

17. Brittany Spears has broken into your wagon again, and this time she stole a frying pan to cook her food. Subtract 5 points if you had a frying pan, Subtract 10 if you did not. Add 5 points if you had a steel animal trap that caught her before she stole it.
HAHA!

18. Your animals are thirsty
Your animals are thirsty. Add 10 points if you have a water barrel left over. Subtract 10 if you do not.

19. While on the journey, you become acquainted with a very attractive young lady/gentleman. You invite her/him to dine with you and create a romantic mood with candles and candle sticks. Add 5 points if you packed candles and candlesticks. Subtract 5 points if you did not.
This is sooo romantic

20. During your romantic dinner, you reach over to take your new friend’s hand and tip over the candles. The fire spreads to the gun powder keg and blows up. Subtract 10 points for losing valuable gun powder and remove one keg from your supply list.
AAAA
oops

21. You’ve been on the trail for 2 months now, and your food supply is running low. You meet a group of Indians who are willing to trade food and for rifles. Add 10 points if you have a rifle you are wiling to trade. Subtract 10 points if you don’t have a rifle to trade.

22. Brittany Spears continues to be a nuisance to the wagon train
Brittany Spears continues to be a nuisance to the wagon train. You meet with your fellow travelers and decide to hang her. Add 10 points if you packed rope. Subtract 10 points if you didn’t. (And no, you can’t shoot her because that would be a waste of bullets.)

23. You have been traveling for three months now, and your boots are completely worn out. Add 5 points for every extra pair of boots you brought. Subtract 5 points if you did not.

24. You come across a band of wild horses in the plains and decide to catch one to bring with you out west. Add 10 points if you packed a saddle and subtract 10 points if not.

25. Just when you were about out of water, you come across a stream and fill up your barrel(s) again. Add 20 points for finding fresh water!

26. It has rained for 5 straight days without letting up
It has rained for 5 straight days without letting up. One of your fellow travelers caught pneumonia and died. Add 10 points if you packed a shovel. Subtract 10 points if you did not

27. You reach a river that you have to cross, but because of all of the rain, the water is very high and running very fast. While crossing, you lose some supplies. Subtract 20 points for losing supplies

28. The rain has left a lot of mud, which makes it difficult for the oxen to pull the wagon. Their yoke breaks, and you must repair it. Add 10 points if you packed a yoke repair kit. Subtract 10 points if you did not.

29. A large band of Indians begin firing at you from the surrounding hills
A large band of Indians begin firing at you from the surrounding hills. Add 10 points if you still a rifle to defend yourself. Subtract 10 points if you do not.

30. You have been wearing the same clothes for months now and they are starting to wear out. Add 5 points for packing fabric. Subtract 5 if not

31. You are three-fourths of the way to your final destination
You are three-fourths of the way to your final destination. Add 20 points for making it this far!

32. You’ve reached a mountain pass where it has snowed
You’ve reached a mountain pass where it has snowed. You must travel ahead of the group to find a good path for the others to take. Add 10 points if you packed snowshoes. Subtract 10 points if you did not

33. Journal #3
Entry #3 – You have reached the Rocky Mountains. It is almost June and you have been traveling for nearly two months. You lost a few passengers in your wagon train. The trip over the mountains will be very tough. How are you thinking and feeling at this point? How are your supplies?

34. Heavy snow starts falling as you make your way up the mountain pass
Heavy snow starts falling as you make your way up the mountain pass. As you near the top of the pass, one of the wagons slides halfway down the trail and overturns blocking the pass. You are trapped in the snowy pass for two days. Add 5 points if you have a blanket to keep you warm. Subtract 5 points if you do not.

35. Stuck in the mountains in the snow you are in desperate need of coffee
Stuck in the mountains in the snow you are in desperate need of coffee. Add 10 points if you brought coffee and subtract 10 if not.

36. You are still snowed in on the mountain pass, and have run out of wood for the fire. You must go in search of wood. Add 10 points if you packed a hatchet/axe with which to chop up some branches. Subtract 10 if you do not have a hatchet.

37. Your axle on the wagon seems to be struggling through the deep snow
Your axle on the wagon seems to be struggling through the deep snow. Add 10 points if you brought axle grease. Subtract 10 if you did not.

38. A huge tree has fallen from the heavy snow and you have to cut it down so your wagon can cross. Add 10 points if you have a cross-cut-saw and subtract 10 if you do not.

39. You finally make it over the mountain, but you have used up all of your food except dried beef . Add 20 points if you have some dried beef. Subtract 20 points if you do not

40. Journal #4
Entry #4 – After taking several weeks to cross the Rockies, you have now traveled 1,000 miles. Describe the trip up, across, and down the mountain range.

41. Brittany Spears’s husband is feeling guilty about his wife’s behavior earlier in the trip and goes hunting for deer to feed the group. He shoots a deer, but now he has to skin it and cut it up. Add 10 points if you packed a hunting knife. Subtract 10 if you did not.

42. You want to cook the dear meet that was caught over your campfire
You want to cook the dear meet that was caught over your campfire. Add 5 if you have flint and steel (subtract 5 if not) and add 5 if you have a Dutch oven (subtract 5 if not).

43. You are within 10 miles of your final destination
You are within 10 miles of your final destination. You and your group decide to have a celebration, and you offer to make a special treat. Add 10 points if you packed flour. Subtract 10 if you did not

44. Finally, you are at your new home. Now you need to set up house
Finally, you are at your new home! Now you need to set up house. Add or subtract points based on what you brought with you to start your new home:
Stove 10 Seeds 5

45. Metal Plow 5 Loom 10

46. Spinning wheel 5 Tool assortment 10

47. Scythe 5 Spices 5

48. Add 5 points for every gun you have left over
Add 5 points for every gun you have left over. Subtract 10 if you have no guns.

49. Journal #5
Entry #5 – You have reached Oregon. Your trip took nearly five months. What sights do you see? How is life different in the west than in the east? What are your final thoughts about the trip? What are your plans for success now that you are in Oregon?

50. Follow-up Questions On the score sheet answer the following questions:
1) Would you have survived the trip on the Oregon Trail?
2) What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
3)List four obstacles the settlers had to overcome on their journey.