Overland Trails

Activity #1: Where did the trails go?

Materials

• Map handouts of the Oregon-California Trail and the Santa Fe Trail
• Looking at Maps worksheet
• Current United States map: http://www.50states.com/us.htm
• United States outline map for classroom activity use (you will need to print and make copies of this map for the class): http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/pdf/us_nl.pdf
• Frontier Trails in Johnson County map

Curriculum Objectives

4th grade - Kansas History Standard, Benchmark 1, Indicator 5: The student compares and contrasts the purpose of the Santa Fe and Oregon-California Trail
4th grade – Kansas Reading Standard 1, Benchmark 4, Indicator 2: The student understands the purpose of text features (e.g. graphs, charts, maps)
4th grade – National Standards for History, Standard 5A: The student is able to draw upon data in historical maps, historical narratives, diaries, and other fiction or nonfiction accounts in order to chart various historical movements (westward, northward, and eastward) in the United States. (Source: National Center for History in the Schools)

Instructions:

1. Print out and distribute copies of the maps of the Oregon-California Trail and the Santa Fe Trail, or have them view the maps online. Both of these trails ran about 2000 miles through varied terrain including the prairie, the mountains, and the high plateau desert. Have students note some areas that might be difficult to cross in a covered wagon, including mountains and rivers. Note that the trails often twist and turn in these areas. Also, note that both trails have alternate routes (for example, the Cimarron Cutoff on the Santa Fe Trail and the cutoff south of Fort Hall on the Oregon-California Trail). These cutoffs usually had less grass for the animals and less water. Although they were shorter, they were riskier. Point out to students that the Oregon Trail and California Trail divide in Idaho.
   
   
2. Have students complete the Looking at Maps worksheet (Answers sheet for teachers provided). Use the Oregon-California Trail map, the Santa Fe Trail map and the current United States map for guides. Students can use the outline map of the United States to trace the trail routes.
   
   
3. Additional Activity:
   Print out and distribute the Frontier Trails in Johnson County map, or have the students view it online. Have the students use the map to answer the following questions:

   Note: This map may be easier to view online because you can use the zoom feature to see the details of the map more clearly.

   1. Did a trail pass near your school?
   2. Did a trail pass near a student’s house?

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