The+Oregon+Trail

Students will learn about the living conditions and shelter during the mid 1800’s in American history of the pioneers who set out on a journey to the west, traveling in covered wagons, to the plains of Oregon, searching for a new beginning. The students will learn about the size and shape of the structures, the building materials used to create these dwellings, the heating and cooling systems used, and the living facilities the pioneers had access to. They will also study what types of food they ate and learn about the importance that the covered wagon played in the survival of the pioneers across the 2000-mile trek to the west.

In order to help the students learn even more about the living environments of the Oregon Trail, the students will get into groups of 3 and construct a structure that portrays a typical campsite during this time period in American history. The students will need to use exact dimensions of the different living structures so that the model is more realistic. They can do this by using a scale such as 1’ = 1”