Head west on the wagon trail to learn about the early pioneers who settled the frontier. You can begin your hunt at www.scholastic.com/instructor Write your answers in the spaces below or on a separate sheet of paper.

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Name:______________________________________________
In the 1840s and 1850s, 500,000 people walked and rode west on the Oregon Trail, the main pathway to the Pacific coast. The Oregon Trail was ______________________ miles long, and the best way to cross the Rocky Mountains
Find the answer at :
www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Introduction.html

A group of pioneer wagons traveling together was called a wagon train. At night the pioneers pulled the wagons into a ______________________ to corral the animals and to protect themselves and their belongings.

Most covered wagons were pulled by ______________________, which were strong, cheap, and could live on prairie grasses along the way.
Find the answer at :
www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Power.html

The Prairie Schooner was a type of covered wagon used by the pioneers. The tires were made of ______________________.
Find the answer at :
www.endoftheoregontrail.org/wagons.html

When they arrived at the campsite for the night, the cooks would rush to collect the best ___________________ to use as fuel for the campfires.
Find the answer at :
www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Camping.html

Many pioneers traveled west to homestead or establish their own farms. Some were seeking their fortunes. In 1849, news of the ______________________ inspired thousands to set off to California.
Find the answer at :
www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kids/goldrush/journey.html

The wagon trip west was long and dangerous. Name two of the dangers the pioneers faced on the trail. ____________________________________and ______________________________________.

. Look at the list of pioneer families on this site and click on one of the names. On the back of this sheet, write the name of the pioneer family you chose and three facts about their trip west.
Find the answer at :
www.endoftheoregontrail.org/biomenu.html
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