Life on the Trail

Michigan settlers may not have had to travel as far as people headed for the West Cost, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t face hardships on the journey to their new lives.

Questions to answer about the decision to become a pioneer and travel the trail:

Why did people come?                                          What did they bring?

How far did they travel in a day?                           How many miles was the trip?

How much did it cost?                                            Why did it end?

What did they do when they got here?                Where did they sleep?

Did the kids go to school?                                     What did kids do?

How did they cross rivers?                                                What kind of animals would you see?

How did they cook?                                               Was it difficult?

What did they do when they got to Oregon?       Who came to Oregon?

Who led the group?                                                            How did they know the way?

What if they broke down?                                       Were there stores to buy things?

Could you send letters home?                             How do we know any of this stuff?

Can you still walk on the trail today?                   What is a “pioneer”?

Did they ride in the wagon?                                   What pulled the wagon?

–Make a cup and ball: a traditional toy for kids on the trail, if there was time for play