RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Pioneers Moving
West on the
Oregon Trail

RAFT
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Overview:
Until the mid-1800s, the western part of what is now the
United States was a vast unknown to most Americans. During
the overland migration, nearly 500,000 settlers moved west
starting their journey in Missouri and ending in Oregon and
California. This is known as the era of Westward Expansion
in US history, and many of the pioneers who traveled west
took what is now known as the Oregon Trail to get there. To
document their travels, many pioneers kept journals of their
experiences on the trail. Thanks to these journals, we are
able to read and learn about the successes and hardships
they faced on their journey west.

For this RAFT assignment you will create a journal, with at

least 5 entries, written from the point of view of one of the
characters from the chart on the following page. All journals,
no matter the perspective you write from, must include the
following:
o At least 2 other characters besides yourself
o The mention of at least one landmark along the trail
o Expectations/feelings about the journey
o The discussion and possible solution of at least three
hardships along the trail
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

o The use of descriptive and figurative language

throughout
Your journal entries will give you an opportunity to
synthesize and express your knowledge and
understanding of Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail
and the Westward Expansion Movement in the United States.

Role Pioneer on the trail moving west

o Man, woman, or child
Wagon train guide
Pioneer who has already arrived in the west
Future pioneer dreaming of going west
Wagon/Wagon train
An animal pulling the wagon
Audience Self
Format Journal entries (narrative writing)
Topic Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Standards:
History
5.8
Students trace the colonization, immigration, and settlement patterns of the
American people from 1789 to the mid-1800s, with an emphasis on the role of
economic incentives, effects of the physical and political geography, and
transportation systems.
5.8.4
Discuss the experiences of settlers on the overland trails to the West (e.g.,
locations of the routes; purposes of the journeys; the influence of the terrain,
rivers, vegetation, and climate; life in the territories at the end of these trials).
Writing
W5.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons
and information.
W5.1.a
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational
structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writers purpose.
W5.1.c
Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently,
specifically).
W5.1.d
Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
Speaking and Listening
SL5.2
Summarize a written text, read aloud, or information presented in diverse media
and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Language
L5.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
L5.1.c
Use verb tense to convey various times, sequences, states, and conditions.
L5.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and
nuances in word meaning.
L5.5.a
Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Lesson Plan Sequence

Day 1
Introduce Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail unit, including
Pioneer Simulation Game
Introduce RAFT project
Day 2
Introduce and complete K and W of KWL Chart as a class
Watch BrainPop video on Westward Expansion
o https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/westwarde
xpansion/
Make-a-Map on Westward Expansion
o https://www.brainpop.com/make-a-
map/?topic=/socialstudies/ushistory/westwardexpansion/
Explore map of Oregon Trail
Day 3
Choose role (and identity) for RAFT
Begin Wagon West! WebQuest
o http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=50522
Lesson on Note Taking methods
View sample journal prompts and entry topics
Conduct research and plan out journal entries
Day 4
Continue research and planning journal entries
Work on Journal Entry #1
Day 5
Lesson on Narrative Writing using Graphic Organizers
Work on Journal Entry #2
Day 6
Lesson on Figurative Language and Imagery
Work on Journal Entry #3
Day 7
Lesson on Conflict
Work on Journal Entry #4
Day 8
Continue WebQuest
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Work on Journal Entry #5

Day 8
Lesson on Editing
Peer Editing Conferences with Checklist
Day 10
Revise journal entries
Create journal cover
o http://www.literacylovescompany.com/2016/05/?m=1
Day 11
Finishing touches on journal entries and journal cover.
Finish WebQuest
Day 12
Present journals to the class.
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail
Possible Journal Entry Topics
Role
Pioneer on the trail
Wagon train guide
Pioneer already in the west
Future pioneer
Wagon/wagon train
Animal on the trail
Possible Entry Topics
Process of buying/collecting supplies
Expectations of the journey and family
members/life youre leaving behind
Daily happenings on the trail
Overview of previous trail trips
Conflicts/problems you have
encountered and trail decisions that
need to be made
Feelings of leading a group of
Pioneers west
Description of journey to the west
Does the west meet your
expectations?
Suggestions/words of wisdom for
those thinking/about to start the
journey
Hopes and dreams for moving west
Questions you have for Pioneers who
have already completed the journey
Hesitations/complications with
starting the journey
Contents of your wagon
Landmarks you are passing on the
trail
Describe the rough terrain and
feelings of going on such a long
journey
Family and wagon train you are going
with
Feelings on the long, treacherous
journey
Hopes for your life once you arrive in
the west
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Sample Journal Prompts

You have made the decision to leave your home, pack everything
you own into a small prairie schooner, and head west. This is 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 trail Native Americans, disease,
snakes, too little water, too much water, raging rivers, and narrow
mountain passes. On the other hand, you have also heard about
Oregons rich, green valleys and its vast, uncrowded land. The
many opportunities out there have stimulated your imagination!
o Explain why you are leaving home and journeying west.
o Describe what you expect to happen during your trip to
Oregon.

You have been on the trail for nearly three months and have faced
many challenges. After previous water problems such as dried-up
water holes and armed guards denying you water, now the summer
rains have finally come. It has rained steadily for the last three
days. The mud makes the trail almost impassable at times. Your
wagons have been bogging down in deep mud holes, small streams
have grown wide, and now you have reached Cheyenne Crossing.
As you look across the river through falling rain, you see a normally
small, peaceful river that has been swollen by the heavy rains to a
width of one-quarter mile. Its current seems to be running
dangerously fast.
o Tell about the rains and how theyve changed your trip.
o Do you believe you can cross the river safely?
o What do you expect to find along the rest of the trail?

Five months have passed since you left Fort Independence. The
trip has taken its toll on you and the other members of your wagon
train. There have been broken wagons, sickness, lack of water,
and other terrible hardships. The trip has become even more
difficult and dangerous; the trail has been much narrower and the
threat of attack has been almost constant. Ten days ago you filled
your water barrels at the last water hole on the trail. Now those
barrels are almost empty and the livestock are thin and sickly. Your
wagon trains scouts report that there is little chance of water for
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

six or seven days. Daytime temperatures have hovered around 100

degrees, making travel by day almost impossible.
o Use vivid descriptive words so that your reader can feel the
heat and see the oven-like desert, dry water holes, empty
water barrels, and the dying stock.
o Write about what you expect to encounter between here and
Oregon.
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

K-W-L Chart

What I KNOW What I WANT to What I have

now know LEARNED
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Brainstorming Web

Directions: Using your research, complete 1 Brainstorming

Web per topic or per journal entry to organize your narrative
writing. The main idea goes in the center and details that will
help you write your journal entries go in the surrounding
circles.
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Brainstorming Web Example, Part 1

Broken Wagon
Sickness
Parts

Hardships
Winter on the on the Days Without
Trail Ore gon Water
Trail

Threat of
Raging Rivers Indian Attacks
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Brainstorming Web Example, Part 2

Shorter
Cold Weather daylight hours
to travel

Trails blocked Winte r on Not enough

with snow the Trail warm clothing

Spirits will be Food will be

down scarce
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Research

Useful Websites:

http://www.octa-trails.org
&
https://www.octa-trails.org/people--stories/trail-stories

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-oregontrail.html

https://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm

https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/westwarde
xpansion/fyi/#tab=0

https://www.oregontrailcenter.org/HistoricalTrails/LocalTrail
Landmarks.htm

http://scienceviews.com/parks/chimneyrock.html

https://www.historicoregoncity.org/pioneer-families/
&
https://www.historicoregoncity.org/2016/11/28/trail-faqs/

http://oregontrail101.com/allabout.html

http://www.oregonpioneers.com/ortrail.htm
 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

Peer Editing Checklist

Name of Editor: Name of Writer:

Outstanding Good Needs Work

1. All journal entries are sequential

and written in the same POV.

2. The entire journal has more than

3 characters.

3. Journal entries are descriptive

and use figurative language.

4. At least one landmark is

described.

5. At least three hardships and

possible solutions are discussed.

6. Sentences begin with capital

letters and end with correct
punctuation.

7. The writer used complete

sentences and spelling has been
checked.

8. The writer used interesting

words & avoided simple, boring
words.

9. My favorite part of your journal is:

10. Questions I have about the writing are:

 RAFT Pioneers Moving West on the Oregon Trail

RAFT Grading Rubric
4 3 2 1
Criteria Amazing Pretty Needs Not
Job Good Work Yet

Role: How well did you sound like

the person whose voice you were
writing in?

Audience: How well did you

acknowledge the group or person the
writing was intended for?

Format: How well did the writing

take the shape of what was originally
expected?

Topic: How well did you prove

youve learned the content expected
by the assignment?

Strong Verb: How well did you

utilize the verb that was originally
expected?

Other:

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