Westward Expansion - Pioneers and Westward Trails

Remove ad

Compact view

Format

Online Activity

Printable Activity

Type

Scavenger hunts

Interactive Map or Tour

Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Reading comprehension

Westward Expansion - Pioneers and Westward Trails

This section contains interactive Oregon, California, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails, plus numerous associated trails and pioneer activities and articles.

The Santa Fe Trail - Bent's Fort (Stop 5)

Description: This page describes Bent's Fort - the fifth stop of the Santa Fe Trail.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Chimney Rock

Description: This is the third stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Fort Laramie

Description: This is the fourth stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Rocky Mountains

Description: This is the fifth stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Fort Hall

Description: This is the sixth stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Great Basin

Description: This is the seventh stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Sierra Nevada Range

Description: This is the eighth stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Sutter's Fort

Description: This is the final stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Santa Fe Trail - Independence (Stop 1)

Description: This page describes Independence, Missouri - the first stop of the Santa Fe Trail.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Santa Fe Trail - Great Plains (Stop 2)

Description: This page describes the Great Plains- the second stop of the Santa Fe Trail.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Santa Fe Trail - Arkansas River (Stop 3)

Description: This page describes the Arkansas River- the third stop of the Santa Fe Trail.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Santa Fe Trail - Fort Dodge (Stop 4)

Description: This page describes Fort Dodge - the fourth stop of the Santa Fe Trail.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

California Trail - Great Plains

Description: This is the second stop on the tour of the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Santa Fe Trail - Santa Fe (Stop 6)

Description: This page describes the final destination on the Santa Fe - Santa Fe itself.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 1 - Nauvoo, Illinois

Description: This page tells about the first stop on the Mormon Trail - Nauvoo, Illinois

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 2 - Council Bluffs, Iowa

Description: This page tells about the second stop on the Mormon Trail - Council Bluffs, Iowa

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

The Mormon Trail - Stop 3 - Platte River

Description: This page tells about the third stop on the Mormon Trail - the Platte River

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 4 - Great Plains

Description: This page tells about the fourth stop on the Mormon Trail - the Great Plains

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 5 - Chimney Rock

Description: This page tells about the fifth stop on the Mormon Trail - Chimney Rock

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 6 - Rocky Mountains

Description: This page tells about the sixth stop on the Mormon Trail - Rocky Mountains

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Mormon Trail - Stop 7 - Great Salt Lake

Description: This page tells about the last stop on the Mormon Trail - The Great Salt Lake

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Gold Rush

Description: This page describes the history and cause and effect of the California Gold Rush.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

Westward Trails Printable Scavenger Hunt

Description: This is the printable version of the scavenger hunt that goes with the Westward Trails Interactive Map

Type: Scavenger hunts

Format: Printable Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Donner Party and the Forlorn Hope

Description: This article describes the chilling Donner Expedition along the California Trail.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 5, 6

Along the Oregon Trail: Interactive Tour Starting at Independence (Stop 1)

Description: This page is the first stop of our interactive Oregon Trail tour. Use the related items carousel to travel from one stop on the trail to the next.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

Oregon Trail Interactive Scavenger Hunt

Description: This is an online scavenger hunt for students to use with the Oregon Trail Interactive Map

Type: Scavenger hunts

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

California Trail Interactive Map

Description: This is an interactive tour map of the California Trail that allows students to click on important points from Independence, Missouri, to Sutter's Fort, California.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

Dangers on the Westward Trails

Description: This page describes in detail the many hazards that pioneers faced in their travels west. From crippling diseases, to wagon accidents, dangerous weather, wild creatures, and attacks by Native Americans, life was very difficult on the journey west.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

Manifest Destiny

Description: This page describes the concept of manifest destiny and how it was used to justify expansion throughout the continent, and the expense of Native Americans and other nations.

Type: Historical Profile or Biography Narrative

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

Manifest Destiny Reading Comprehension - Online

Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. PASSAGE LENGTH: 218 Words; LEXILE: 1310

Type: Reading comprehension

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

Manifest Destiny Reading Comprehension

Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH: 218 Words; LEXILE: 1310

Type: Reading comprehension

Format: Printable Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

Available as assessment on Google Classroom

Along the Mormon Trail: Introduction and Interactive Tour

Description: This page serves as the introduction to our interactive Mormon Trail. It tells about the trail and the leader of the LDS, Brigham Young. Tour the Mormon Trail by clicking on the links or images in the related items carousel.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6

The Sante Fe Trail - Introduction and Interactive Tour

Description: This page describes the Santa Fe Trail and is the first page of our Santa Fe Trail interactive tour. Use the related items carousel to take the tour.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 4, 5, 6

The Donner Party and the Forlorn Hope Reading Comprehension - Online

Description: This resource includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. PASSAGE LENGTH: 414 Words; LEXILE: 910

Type: Reading comprehension

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 5, 6, 7

Available as assessment on Google Classroom

The Donner Party and the Forlorn Hope Reading Comprehension - Printable

Description: This resource includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. LENGTH: 414 Words; LEXILE: 910

Type: Reading comprehension

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 5, 6

Available as assessment on Google Classroom

Westward Trails Interactive Map

Description: This interactive map tells all about the Oregon, California, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails. Simply click on a trail location to learn all about it.

Type: Interactive Map or Tour

Format: Online Activity

Grade Levels: 3, 4, 5, 6