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The Process

Your teacher will allow each pair of pioneers to choose one of the trails to research.  The following are your choices:

  • The Santa Fe Trail
  • The Oregon Trail
  • The Overland Trail
  • The Mormon Trail
  • The Gold Rush
  • The Pony Express
Task:
     You will be taking notes as you do research to learn about your trail.  Take good notes of important information as well as any interesting facts.  Do not copy word for word.  Write it in your own words.  Use your notes to write and illustrate a children's book that contains only a few sentences per page that includes pictures or drawings in your book.  The rough copy of your book can be hand written or typed.  The final copy will need to be done as a Powerpoint, or Microsoft Word document.
 
  •      7 elements to include in your book: 
    • a title page 
    • a picture of the map of your trail 
    • important and interesting information about your trail
    • book should answer who, what, when, where, why and how
    • pictures of pioneer's houses, covered wagons, tools, or other pioneer belongings 
    • include some of the problems pioneers encountered on the trail
    • an About The Authors Page
         Don't forget to check the scoring guide while you are doing your task.

         Choose from these resources to learn about your trail:
    The Santa Fe Trail

    The Oregon Trail

    The Overland Trail

    The Mormon Trail

    The Gold Rush

    The Pony Express
     

    Extra Credit #1: 
      After writing your book you will be designing an exhibit to share with the primary students.  It will need to be approved by the teacher before you begin. 
         Your exhibit should be an authenic example of some aspect of Pioneer life.  Some examples would be:

    • a mural
    • a model of a home or covered wagon 
    • a model of a settlement
    • other creative idea. 
    Don't limit yourself to the above ideas.  Talk with your partner about your trail and pick out a unique part of your research to use as your exhibit.

    Extra Credit #2:
      Along with your exhibit you need to write an explanation of why you chose the item that you did.  The explanation should include at least 3 reasons to support your choice.  Please use proper paragraph form.