Subject: Westward Trails                                                    Teacher: Meloy

Duration: 2 weeks (+ time to plan for Celebration)

Nebraska State Standards:

12.1.2 Students will analyze and explain the events and ideas of the Early National Period

12.1.4 Students will analyze the impact of immigration on American life, identifying factors.

            12.1.13 Students will develop skills for historical analysis

12.1.14 Students will demonstrate verbal and written skills that focus on enduring issues, divergent view points, and excerpts from famous speeches and documents in United States History

            12.4.1 Students will demonstrate geographical skills

Concept: Experience Emigration of peoples following the Platte River Road and the impact this had on Nebraska.

Objective: Students will identify with trail life. Students will understand reasons for the trails.

Connect (feel/empathize/engage in a personal way): In groups of 4-5, students will analyze pictures of trail life and landmarks paired with journal samples. Activity: Groups are each given a photograph and journal entry of trail life. They are given a minute to look at each picture. Their goal is to put themselves in the shoes of those who lived these experiences.

Attend (prioritize/analyze the reason for learning this information): What do you think these people were thinking at this time? Put yourself into their shoes. Activity: Quickwrite or Think-Pair-Share.

Imagine (View/read/act out-get a picture in your mind): Video documentaries on Oregon Trail and Westward Trails. Activity: Write five quiz questions from the video.

Field Trip: The Mormon Trail Center, Florence. Experience first hand the artifacts and primary documents of the Mormon people and life along the trail.

Inform (Research/speaker/demo/lecture/teach): Trails handout (read in class). Activity: KWL worksheet from handout. Lecture. Activity: Quickwrites based on lecture- trail experiences.

Practice (Quiz/test to check for understanding): Quiz over Westward Trails (50 points)

Extend (Create a new way to apply the information/synthesize): Webquest “Westward Ho!” (see technology page). Activity: In groups, read over the information provided in the webquest. Using the links for research, and a supply handout provided, pretend you are part of a company headed west. Create an authentic constitution for your trail company, and also three to five journal entries highlighting events and experiences along the trail.

Refine (Create relevance and bring students full circle- compare with how others think- rubric): Create rubric for the webquest, share journal entries with class during celebration.

Perform (The students will celebrate their learning through “what if” –FUTURE application): Food Day/Celebration at end of unit. Experience food of the emigrant/pioneer days: Buffalo stew, fruits, cornbread, “antique” jams, root beer. Activity: Complete one project for unit final in regard to emigrant/pioneer time. Suggestions: Photographic Documentary (display board documenting period photos from people like Solomon Butcher comparing them with your own photos of Nebraska today), Period Clothing Display, Pioneer Cookbook, Period Newspaper, Historical Role-play, or 3 page report on pioneer life.

Email me at tammie_meloy@yahoo.com