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Teacher's Guide for COBBLESTONE ® California Trail
November 2002
Teacher Guide prepared by: Diane L. Brooks, a writer and curriculum specialist living in Roseville, CA.
GEOGRAPHIC UNDERSTANDINGS
Provide a blank outline map of the United States to small groups of students. Using the map on pages 8-9 of The California Trail, information from the articles, and other resources, each group identifies locations important to those involved in the Westward Movement of the 19th century. After, groups are combined and findings compared.
| California |
Humboldt River and Sink |
Sierra Nevada Mountains |
| Chimney Rock |
Independence Rock, WY |
Sutter's Fort, CA |
| Council Bluffs, IA |
Missouri |
Truckee River |
| Fort Hall, ID |
Nebraska |
Yerba Buena/San Francisco |
| Forty-Mile Desert |
Oregon Territory |
Yosemite Valley |
| Great Plains |
Reno, NV |
Yuba River |
| Great Salt Lake Desert |
Rocky Mountains |
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For those emigrating west in the 19th century, what regions were easier to cross? What regions offered challenges? Why were routes chosen? How were climate and geography important in travel plans?
On the same outline map, students draw the trails of emigrant groups to California:
- The Bidwell-Bartleson Party of 1841
- The Chiles-Walker Party of 1843
- The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party of 1844
- The Donner-Reed Party of 1846-1847
DIGGING DEEPER INTO THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL
- The class is organized into four groups; each group uses The California Trail issue and other resources to find out more about one of the emigrant groups to California.
Reasons for emigration to California:
Description of the party:
Challenges along the way:
How challenges were handled:
The outcome:
- Those who ventured west in the 1830s and 1840s had traits of character that were needed for life and distinguished them from other people. What qualities were needed for adventure? For survival? For a new lifestyle in a new location? Students reflect on the experiences of mountain men and emigrants to California, as told in the articles, and identify character traits that were needed for these men, women, and children.
| Emigrants |
Character Traits |
| Mountain Men |
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| Wagon Train Leaders |
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Members of Wagon Trains:
Men
Women
Children
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- Students prepare for a westward venture in the 19th century; as a mountain man or as a member of a wagon train. List the supplies (and amount) needed for a six month adventure, and explain why the supply is important.
- There were many heroes on the California Trail. Use the COBBLESTONE® issue, and other resources, to write a mini-biography of one of these heroes: John Bidwell, Caleb Greenwood, Martin Murphy, Moses Schallenberger, Jedediah Smith, Elisha Stephens, John Townsend, Joseph Walker. Why is this hero remembered today? As an extension, students prepare and role play a "You Are There" program for radio or television and tell the story of their "hero."
- Students take the role of an emigrant on the California Trail (man, woman, or child). Write a letter to a friend that you left behind. Describe the scenery, life "on the trail," some adventures, and what you hope for once you arrive in California.
- Students study the "Cartoon Connection" on page 49. What is the message? Students then draw a cartoon or an illustration to accompany the "letter to a friend." A cartoon can send a powerful message.
- The article on pages 40-41 shares the importance of rope to those who traveled west. Scan the articles in the magazine and list the many uses of rope. As an extension, find out about different kinds of knots and their uses. Those involved in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts can be helpful here. Then, try to tie different kinds of knots. How is rope made? What plants or fibers are used?
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