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