Your students will learn about the Oregon Trail through these low-prep station activities! Students rotate through five stations to view historical images and learn about the Oregon Trail from multiple perspectives. Introductory and closing reading passages are included. Simply print the materials and the student response booklet. Answer keys are included.
Click the preview for details!
This resource includes/covers the following:
- Introductory Reading Passage (build background knowledge and context)
- Station A: Why Move West?
- Station B: People of the Trail
- Station C: A Typical Day
- Station D: Key Landmarks
- Station E: Forts Along the Way
- Closing Reading Passage (life after reaching Oregon)
- Analysis Questions (printable booklet)
- Station Labels (folds into tent)
- Teacher Tips/Standards Alignment
- Answer Keys Included
Station Content/Information Covered:
Why Move West
Indigenous Routes
Impact on Indigenous Peoples
Missionaries Narcissa Whitman & Eliza Hart Spalding
Children on the Trail
African Americans on the Trail
Women and Babies
Preparations & Resupply
Typical Day
Perceived Threats
Sickness and Real Threats
Chimney Rock
Scott's Bluff & Devil's Gap
Independence Rock
South Pass
The Dalles & Columbia River Crossing
Fort Kearny
Fort Laramie
Donner Party
Fort Hall
This resource is LOW PREP! All of the student analysis pages are included in a student booklet. Just print and triple staple! The questions include a variety of short answers, fill-in-the-blank, and map skills. Answer keys included.
Station materials are super easy to implement. Just print and trim (optional). Station labels are included (just fold into a tent).
Other Ways to Use this Resource:
Conduct this activity whole group. Project the station materials from the PDF over your large screen and go through the response questions together with your students.
Standards Alignment:
- Common Core Standards for Reading Informational Text
- Washington 5th Grade Grade Social Studies Standards
- Can cross-walk to many different state standards
