The Pony Express started in St. Joseph, MO and the route stretched all the way to Sacramento, California The Pony Express may have been short lived (only lasted a little over a year), but it was a BIG deal in 1860 because it was able to carry mail from Missouri to California in 8-10 days!
How many days did it take our caravan to travel that far? Turn to your neighbor and predict how the Pony Express was able to carry mail THAT fast!
The Pony Express hired young, light-weight men to ride horses continuously from Missouri to California. They stopped every 15 miles to trade out their horses. Why did the riders have to be light-weight? Why did they have to trade out horses?
These riders had to be brave because the journey was dangerous! It was not uncommon for riders to die on the trail. In fact, that was one of the job requirements--willing to risk death!
What do we eat? What do we like to wear? What do we like to do for fun?
Imagine seeing someone like this for the first time. How would you feel right away?
Now imagine this person came from another planet. When he spoke it sounded like this:
You did not understand the man or the other purple people with him. The only thing you did understand was that they called Americans "Russians." Where did this name come from? We live in America, not Russia. You were quite scared of the purple people. All of a sudden they acted like they owned America. They forced you, your friends, family, and everyone else already in America to go live in Antarctica.
How would you feel about living in Antarctica? How would you feel about moving away from home NOT by choice?
To make matters worse. On the journey to Antarctica, thousands of Americans die because the purple people brought a sickness we had no cure for. When you got to Antarctica, there were no grocery stores, fast food restaurants, or any sort of possibility of the food you were used to. There were no houses, only igloos. You were forced to stay in Antarctica because the purple people would not allow you back in America.
The Native Americans had a similar experience of removal from their homes by a nation of people who were new to the land. The US government forced thousands of Native Americans to move out of their ancestor's lands to designated "reservations" that the government assigned them to. Approximately 4,000 Native Americans died from disease and warfare as they walked to their new assigned "homes."
The Shoshone Tribe, also known as "Snake Nation" resided in several states in the Northwest. They lived near the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The Shoshone tribe alos engaged in much warfare, and they raided other tribes and settlers of food and weapons. Lewis and Clark were the first white people the Shoshone's ever saw. They gave Lewis and Clark's expedition horses to travel over the mountains. Sacagewea was a Shoshone woman.
Try out this game at home! This popular online game is also now made for the wii. It takes students through a series of simulations based on the hardships Pioneers faced in the 19th century.
During our Journey on the Oregon Trail, students will be recording their thoughts into a journal entries as if they were a pioneer on the trail themselves. We will read a few examples of diary entries from fictional pioneers so that the students can have a more authentic understanding of a pioneer's lifestyle.
The following is a link to a PDF file of a book entitled: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie. We will be reading several diary entries in class about a families decision to take the Journey West.
Three caravans with wagons full of fourth grade pioneers are traveling on the Oregon Trail to find a new home! Track our progress, troubles, and fun we have on the journey.
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