Westward Expansion: Hardships
These sites are about the various hardships the pioneers faced as they traveled to the West. The types of problems include the weather, accidents while on the trail, and diseases. Read personal narratives and stories. There is a link to eThemes Resource on Westward Expansion: Trails West.
Grades
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
Links
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Oregon Trail, Death on the Trail
Historical information about the dangers of traveling on the Oregon Trail is interspersed with paintings and quotes from authors and actual travelers.
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The Oregon Trail-dangers settlers faced
Learn what the greatest danger was to the pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail. Additional information on this trek west is also informative.
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Historical Trails: Trail Basics and Dangers
Use the discussion of hardships to learn what the pioneers encountered on the trail.
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Exploring the Old West
Use the section about the Oregon Trail which discusses what hardships pioneers encountered.
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Overland Trails
This activity involves the hardships and dangers on the Trail. Various types of dangers such as river crossings, accidents, lack of medial care are explained for students.
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Oregon Trail Diaries
Use the diaries with students to investigate hardships during travel on the Oregon Trail.
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New Perspectives on The West
From the series, The West, comes lesson plans, primary documents, and diaries of people who explored and settled the West.
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On the Oregon Trail
This lesson involves students with primary documents and photographs to recreate the experience of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
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The Disease, the Cure
This lesson plan has students study the diseases that pioneers often dealt with. NOTE: This site has links to external sites.
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Typhoid Fever
This fact sheet tells about transmission and symptoms of this disease.
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Hardships
Read about the troubles the pioneers faced on the trail like weather, river crossings, and accidents. NOTE: This site has links to external sites.
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ThinkQuest: Oregon Trail
This student-created site includes a section about the hardships the pioneers faced along the way.
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Heritage Gateway
Read about some of the hardships that faced pioneers traveling along a Westward route.
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ThinkQuest: Pioneer Life
Follow the links to learn about some of the hardships the pioneers encountered while traveling to the west.
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eThemes Resource: Westward Expansion: Trails West
These sites are about the Santa Fe, Overland, California, and the Mormon Pioneer trails. See pictures of the West in the 1800s and study maps of the trails. Read about life along the trails. Includes eThemes resources on the Oregon Trail and covered wagons. Watch a video on Arrow Rock, a stopping point on the way West.
Education Standards
- MO
- UT
- AR
- IL
