Written by Tod Olsen, Afterward by Marc Aronson
Illustrated by Scott Allred and Gregory Proch
Published by National Geographic in 2009
Teachers' Choice Award 2010
Adventurous, Educational, Fascinating, Historical, Informational
Summary:
This book is the account of William Reed's journey across the Oregon Trail. He discusses his fears, the "road" they traveled, what they encountered, and both spending and earning money. This account may or may not have actually happened, but either way it is historically accurate. It gives a good insight into what life was for the emigrantes.
Reading Level:
Lexile Measure: 1020L
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.6
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
Electronic Resources:
The Trail for Kids
This link is for students and teachers. It has additional information about the Oregon Trail including frequently asked questions. It also has crossword puzzles with vocabulary words about the Oregon Trail. For teaching resources it has math exercises pertaining to trading posts and money.
The Oregon Trail
This link has interactive information and more links for students to learn more about the Oregon Trail. It tells about the hardships, supplies, and the route of the Oregon Trail. It also tells about the life of the travelers, what they wore, what they did, and how they lived.
Teaching Strategies:
Teachers can use this story for social studies as a history lesson about the Oregon Trail.
Teachers can use this story to show forms of communication and travel during the western migration in the 1850s.
Suggested Delivery:
I would recommend this book be read in small groups because there are many vocabulary words that are pertinent to understanding the book that the students most likely have not yet encountered. The students can work together to figure out the meanings.
Key Vocabulary:
Forebears, Melancholia, Emigrants, Contraption, Cholera, Vengeance, Treacherous, Ramshackle, Smitten, Unmolested, Specimen, Yoke, Mormons, Inferior, Maelstrom, Profit, Missionaries, Outskirts, Speechifying, Anvil
Reading Strategies:
Before Reading:
Have students complete the K and W in a KWL chart about the Oregon Trail. This will get them thinking about what they already know, their prior knowledge, and get them to go beyond that and think about all the information they don't know, but would like to learn. This will prepare them for their reading.
During Reading:
Stop half way through the book and have students reflect on what has been read and make predictions on what will happen in the last half of the book.
After Reading:
Have students complete the L in their KWL chart. This will help to recount the information they have learned about. Have them correct any information that they thought they knew in their K, but was actually a misconception.
Writing Activity:
Have students draw on the book and other information they learned about the Oregon Trail and create a journal account of their journey on the Oregon Trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment