Introduction
As the east became more populated and jobs became more scarce, people were looking for solutions to a better life. News traveled to the east that people were venturing out west because of gold prospecting and new land for people to claim and make a home for their families. Very little was known about this new land, and people were not prepared for what they were going to encounter on their journey west.
(Bing.com/images, 2014)
Task
Your goal is to experience what the typical journey was like to travel to an unknown land with only the possessions that you took with you when you left home. You will keep track of this journey through a journal or diary. Your journal will include the following:
- Fourteen substantial entries that are dated using the appropriate time-period
- Who is traveling with you
- What type of transportation you are using
- Where your journey begins and what your planned destination will be
- What landmarks you see along the way (mountains, rivers, etc.)
- What hardships you encounter
- You will also include illustrations which can include: maps, landmarks, and events
You will work in a group to research and write your journal. Every group member will contribute to the research, journal, and presentation to the class. In addition, each of you will have an individual writing project of writing a letter home (the east) to a person you left behind explaining your journey and hardships. You will use the information from your research and journal to write this letter. Your final task will be to share your experiences with the class.
(Bing.com/images. 2014)
Process
- The teacher will assign groups.
- Each member of the group will have a specific role in the assignment such as recorder, illustrator, researchers, etc.
- Groups will work together to create 14 journal entries and at least four illustrations to go with some of your entries. Groups should discuss and plan your journal entries. Use the criteria on the task page to help guide your research and journal entries. All members of the group should contribute to the journal entries.
As a group you will use one of the following methods to present your information to the class:
- Create a PowerPoint with graphics
- Perform a skit acting out events of the journey
- Create a video
Individual Assignment: You will write a letter to a family member or friend that you left behind and tell them about your experiences traveling west. Include details about landmarks, hardships, and events. Use your research and journal entries to help you write the letter.
Use the following resources for your research
http://www.pioneerswest.com/hardships.html
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-donnerparty.html
http://www.campsilos.org/mod2/students/life.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/frontierlife/essay3.html
http://kidskonnect.com/subjectindex/16-educational/history/276-pioneers.html
Watch the following videos:
http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/plains.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E7MJu34sQk
Evaluation
This is how your work will be evaluated.
| Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Meets 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Total Points Earned | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worked Cooperatively in Groups | Did not work together in a positive manner and did not discuss the information, plan, or possible outcomes. The students' performance characteristics reflect a beginning level of performance. | Had difficulty working together in a positive manner and discussed information very briefly, performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance. | Worked in a positive manner with others and briefly discussed the information and plan. The students' performance characteristics reflect mastery of performance. | Worked in a positive manner with others and discussed the information and overall plan. The students'performance characteristics reflect the highest level of performance |
_ 4 |
|
Classroom Presentation |
Unprepared and showed no evidence of the criteria outlined in the assignment. | Somewhat prepared, but poorly presented with only some evidence of the required criteria outlined in the assignment | Prepared, but still lacking in evidence of the criteria outlined in the assignment | Very prepared and displayed evidence of all criteria outlined in the assignment. Showed evidence of higher level thinking skills. |
_ 4 |
| Completion and Quality of the Required Journal |
Written assignments are incomplete and poorly written. | There is evidence of some thought, but the work is still incomplete or poorly written. A lack of full effort is displayed. | Written assignments are complete and neatly written, but some of the journal entries are not developed. | All journal entries are well developed and thought out. There is evidence of all criteria was met in the assignment. |
_ 4 |
| Completion of the individual letter assignment | Struggled to get work completed on time, and the letter was not well developed and did not contain enough information about the journey. | Tended to procrastinate throughout the the assignment, but able to get their letter completed on time. The letter contained some information of the journey, but was not as developed as it should have been. | Used time wisely and completed the letter on time. Letter included events of the journey but could have been more developed and organized. | Routinely used time wisely throughout to ensure that the work was thoroughly thought out, and completed on time. The letter included very detailed accounts of the journey. The letter was organized and neatly completed. |
_ 4 |
| Overall Creativity | Illustrations and presentation lack effort, color, and creativity. | Illustrations and presentation have aspects of creativity and effort but work still lacks in meeting the criteria of the assignment. | Illustrations and presentation have creative design and have been put together in a acceptable manner. | Illustrations and presentation have creative design elements and are visually appealing to the audience. Illustrations and presentation demonstrates quality work. |
_ 4 |
|
Total Points Earned = /20 |
_ 20 |
Comments:__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
This lesson was intended to help you learn more about the life of people who had the courage to leave everything and everyone they know to go to an unknown land. You should learn about the dangers and other hardships that were endured. Each trail that wagon trains took had their own significant landmarks and dangers.
Make sure all criteria is followed as outlined on the task and process sections and that your presentations are creative and gives a complete accounting of your journey going west with your visual aides (illustrations, maps, etc.) to help your audience visualize your experiences.
Your individual letters, to a loved one, should use good descriptive language so that the reader can not only visualize what you went through but also can feel all the emotions that you felt while going through this experience.
Reflection:
How do you think the western movement of the pioneers impacted our lives today? What contributions were made to create the west of today?
(bing.com/images, 2014)
Credits
References
Bing.com/images. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pictures+of+the+western+movement&
id=BAFE4D4753ACEE65472219F7BAFCE4A63FC09C72&FORM=IQFRBA
Camp Silos. (2009). Life as a pioneer. Retrieved from
http://www.campsilos.org/mod2/students/life.shtml
Have fun history. (2013). Pioneers of the plains. Retrieved from
http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/plains.html
KidsKonnect.com. (2014). Pioneers. Retrieved from
http://kidskonnect.com/subjectindex/16-educational/history/276-pioneers.htm
Legends of America. (2003). The Donner tragedy. Retrieved from
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-donnerparty.html
Pbs.org. (2014). Hardships without glory: Life on the trail. Retrieved from
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/frontierlife/essay3.html
Pioneers West. (2008). Hardships. Retrieved from http://
www.pioneerswest.com/hardships.html
TnGen web project. (2010). Retrieved from http://www. tngenweb.org/tn letters/usa-
west.htm
Youtube.com. (2014). Oregon trail journey. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E7MJu34sQk
Teacher Page
This webquest is based on the Nevada content standard objectives for 4th grade. Fourth grade social studies focuses on Nevada and the culture and contributions of the people native to Nevada and who came and settled in Nevada through the Westward Movement. English language arts standards are also addressed through reading, research, speaking and listening, and the writing portions of the lesson. Using the webquest is a great way to integrate technology into lessons.