Fifth graders follow the pioneers west on the Oregon Trail, from loading a covered wagon to crossing rivers, plains, and mountains, and put the long journey in order.
Students will be able to…
Pioneers crossed half a continent by wagon to start a new life. What was the journey on the Oregon Trail, and what did it take to survive it?
Project this and put the pioneers' journey west in order — tap each step from loading the wagon to reaching Oregon.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
In the 1800s, thousands of families packed everything into a wagon and set off on a 2,000-mile trip west. Why would they leave home, and what did the journey take?
Students put the trail journey in order.
Students plan a pioneer wagon.
Students write a pioneer diary entry.
Students reflect on the pioneers' journey.
Aligned to the C3 Framework for Social Studies and Common Core literacy in social studies.
Create and use a chronological sequence of related events.
Generate questions about individuals and groups who shaped significant historical changes.
Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the movement of people.
Explain the relationships between events in a historical text.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students pick a point on the trail, write a short diary entry, and describe one hardship, so pioneer life becomes real to them. A printable Oregon Trail worksheet is in the Social Studies library.
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A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.