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Lissa
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Location: California
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| Posted: Feb 01 2005 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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I just posted a little piece about our wagon trail rabbit
trail (LOL) at my blog)...it's excerpted from a longer
essay which will run in the VaHomeschoolers
newsletter. (Elizabeth, do you know about them?
Great group.)
We read lots more books than I mention in the blog,
but I was just highlighting our favorites--especially By
the Great Horn Spoon.
Life on the Trail blog
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Kelly
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| Posted: Feb 27 2005 at 1:11am | IP Logged
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Lissa, I'm sure you know about the computer program, "Oregon Trail, but just in case not, I thought I'd put in a plug for it. It's been around forever, not overly sexy or anything, but my kids loved it. The players have to make all sorts of decisions about supplies, length of stops, horses vs oxen and so on. We played it a lot when we were studying the Oregon Trail (prior to following the OT from Kansas to Wyoming one summer, complete with sickness in the wagon...er car... dangerous encounters with a tornado, and a cook-out at the foot of Chimney Rock. It was quite an adventure. I FELT like an Oregon Trail goer!!!)
Kelly in FL
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Cindy
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| Posted: Feb 27 2005 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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Hi Kelly-
Oh. that has been a favorite of ours! The boys made up several new games and would get so upset.. (croc tears) when someone died!! 
Great way to learn - wow having to figure out supplies, how much to buy and carry, when to cross the river, etc.
Thanks for mentioning it!
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Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
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Lissa
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| Posted: Feb 28 2005 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
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Quote:
| Lissa, I'm sure you know about the computer program, "Oregon Trail, but just in case not, I thought I'd put in a plug for it. |
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Yes, thank you, we do have that game and we love it! I'm glad you mentioned it here because it's nice to have it on the thread for posterity.  My girls are crazy about the game—and I must admit, it has sucked me in too, occasionally.
I especially appreciate the "travel diary" function--my Kate did some nice writing because of that. She liked to record journal entries for each game's adventures. Lots of fun to go back and re-read those!
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Lissa
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Kelly
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| Posted: March 11 2005 at 10:51pm | IP Logged
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A few other suggestions for studying the Oregon Trail. First of all,the kids history magazine, Cobblestone, has several issues dealing with aspects of the OT. Helpful and interesting. One of the back issues on the Mormon Pioneer Trail was interesting, too. The way the various pioneer groups worked together on "the trail" is really inspiring.
A fun project to do is to take a map of the area and mark all the different trails: Oregon Trail, Chisholm Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail, Santa Fe Trail (hmmm,what am I forgetting?)
You can also write off for information from the Scotts Bluff National Monument in Scotts Bluff,Nebraska (they may have a website, too). They have a lot of good info available,some for free, some to buy. We picked up an excellent movie there that covered the many aspects of the trail. They also have cds on things like "Music of the Oregon Trail".
Special order buffalo meat from your grocer. It is delicious. Your children will LOVE cooking and preparing this "real" Oregon Trail meal.
If you intend to study the Donner Party, I highly recommend two resources. "The Old News" 9717-426-2212) has a free sample copy with an interesting article entitled "Donner Party Menaced by Mountain Snow" which recounts the disastrous journey from the perspective of Virginia Reed, one of the survivors. One of the reasons it is so interesting is that it talks about her conversion to the Catholic faith because of her experience of the winter. Likewise, the book "Patty Reed's Doll" handles the subject of the Donner Party in a diplomatic way, without an excess of gruesome detail.
Get an art book on the paintings of the West, especially Frederick Remington and Charles Russell. Although the time period they typically showed was a little later than the Oregon Trail, per se, their paintings of Indians and settlers really evoke the Old West. Enjoy the picture study. Let your children try to copy some of them.
Obviously, immerse your children in the great books from or about this period. There are already lists and suggestions aplenty for this period, but I would particularly suggest "Children of the Covered Wagon" by Mary Jane Carr. Great book. For Mom, the book "Old Jules" by Mari Sandoz, is a fabulous book about the Western Experience, based on the author's father's life. After reading this,I decided that they just don't make people tough like they used to be in the "old days". Another good one is "Giants of the Earth".
"Westward Ho"is an activity book by Laurie Carlson that has lotsof diffferent hands-on projects relevant to the Westward movement. It also has many recipes forthings like homemade crackers and Johnny Cake.
Kelly in FL
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Topic: Oregon trail
