Educational Resources

Multimedia resource center

In Pursuit of a Dream

This multiple award-winning film shoes modern teenagers learning firsthand what it was like to be an emigrant traveling West on a wagon train. It is available on DVD that includes the film and a disc of bonus materials compiled from film footage not featured in the movie. A Study Guide is available.

OCTA Trail Scout Newsletters

Young people are the future preservationists of the overland trails. The OCTA Trail Scout is their publication. Its Mission is: “Young People Today Preserving Yesterday’s History for a Greater Tomorrow. Written and published quarterly by young people for young people (and those who are young at heart).

Opportunities for Teachers & Students

As part of our plan to fulfill our mission statement, we sponsor several specific programs that we encourage teachers and students to participate in. We have long known of the time and effort that educators spend teaching the westward migration and the impact it has had on our history.

Partners & Links

OCTA is pleased to have affiliations and partnerships with a variety of educational and informational online resources.

Learning Resources and Activities

This section of the web site is under development. Please check back often for new content. Resource materials and learning activities are listed here under several categories.

Activities and resources which were developed specifically for use with elementary students or middle school students are marked with a bold E or M. Most of the activities and resources listed here are suitable for learners of all ages or can be adapted for younger or older students.

In addition to the Educational Resources pages there are several other locations on the OCTA web site that have information and resources useful for learners of all ages. Explore these sections of the web site:
Interactive Trail • Trail Maps & Views • Trail Facts • People & Places • Paper Trail • OCTA Bookstore

Activity Books M, E

America's westward march has been captured in OCTA's four educational Activity Books. They are appropriate for use at the middle and high school level, and parts may be adapted for use in lower levels. They focus on the Oregon-California Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the Pony Express Trail. They are designed to provide basic information and useful exercises to test the understanding and comprehension of the students. These books are available from the OCTA Bookstore.

To enter a raffle to win a set of one of these titles for your classroom, see information under Opportunities for Students and Teachers.

Reading, 'Riting and Riding Along the Oregon-California Trail

This 64-page activity book is focused around the experiences of early emigrants and is written for middle school students and their teachers. Activities include maps and map work, word searches, identification, making charts and graphs, crossword puzzles, classifications and reading comprehension. Answer section at back of book.

Finding the Right Place, the Story of the Mormon Trail

This book is concerned with many of the experiences of the Mormon travelers whose main route was from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska area, and then to Salt Lake City, Utah. Those experiences are based on the use of primary source materials. Activities include map work, charts and graphs, classifications, identification and word search.

Following Lewis and Clark's Track, the Story of the Corps of Discovery

This illustrated book includes maps, word searches, charts, graphs and puzzles. Excerpts from the L & C journals provide insight into one of the most important events in the history of the United States.

Here Comes the Pony, the Story of the Pony Express

Published in conjunction with the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri. Fun-filled activity book suitable for children of all ages, but especially geared toward fourth graders and up. It contains a teacher's guide at the end of the book.

Learning Activities

This section will contain a variety of stand-alone learning activities that may be combined with other activities and resources to suit individual needs.

Lesson Plans and Units

America's Westward Movement – E

Designed for students in grades 3-4, this 3-week interdisciplinary unit covers Lewis and Clark, Mountain Men, and the Oregon Trail

The Road to Oregon – M & up

Written by Dr. Jim Tompkins, prominent Oregon City historian and descendant of Oregon Trail emigrants, this is a good primer on the history of the Oregon Trail. The articles are suitable for grades 6 and up, though younger students may benefit from them if they are strong readers.

Who Were the Buckeye Rovers? – coming soon

Maps

Historic Trails of the Western United States

OCTA’s map measures 26” x 36”. Full color map, both sides, on high-quality 100# matte coated text stock paper and is ideal for framing. The map also features beautiful renderings of the trail experience, details about major historic trails and wonderful quotes from emigrant diaries. Available from the OCTA Bookstore.

Virtual Trail

OCTA’s interactive map lets you take a virtual trip across the Oregon and California Trails.

Rug Map – E

This rug comes in several sizes and has an outline map of the United States on it. Major mountain ranges are also shown. Students can “walk” along the trail on this map. There are a couple of slightly different versions of this type of rug.

Worthingtondirect.com - the USA Learn and Play Carpet
KidCarpet.com – Map of the USA Rug

Pathfinders

A pathfinder is a guide to information and resources about a topic. It will provide some specific resources (print and online) to get you started and will give you some research tips and guide you to further sources of information.

Pathfinder specifically developed to be used in conjunction with the film In Pursuit of a Dream: Selecting Gear and Starting Out – E, M and up – coming soon

Reading Lists

Lewis and Clark Reading List – E, M
Oregon-California Trails Reading List - E, M

See also OCTA Bookstore - "Children’s Materials" for a list of available titles

Slide Presentations & Web Quests

English and Spanish Power Point Presentations – E

Designed for elementary students and would be most appropriate for grades 3-5.

The Oregon Trail (English)
The Oregon Trail (Spanish)
Westward Expansion Maps (English
The Lewis and Clark Trail (English)
The Lewis and Clark Trail (Spanish)

Web Quests – E, M

Designed by the middle school students of Alan Haskvitz. They are presented in Power Point format and can be used by students of a variety of levels. They are made by students, for students.

Wagons
Food

Trail Guides

Barlow Road Guidebook

Written by Dr. Jim Tompkins, prominent Oregon City historian and descendant of Oregon Trail emigrants, this book is a self-guided tour of Laurel Hill, Devil’s Half Acre, Barlow Pass, the Pioneer Woman’s Grave and Summit Meadows.

Trail Maps and Views

Interactive Trail
Cherokee Trail
Wyoming Trails