Oregon Trail Unit Study

Being presented with an opportunity to visit Portland, OR was so exciting. I was especially happy to work in as many unit studies as possible. I do so love a nice unit study that pairs with a travel experience.

We listened to this audiobook using an app from our local library: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847 (Dear America Series)

We really enjoyed the diary style of this historical fiction and we learned so much about life on the Oregon Trail. It was a little bit heavy, with lots of fatalities along the trail. There were also children getting married at age 13-14, as was common during that time period. I’d recommend the book for older children in middle school and high school. We will probably read more of this series in the future because I feel like it gave us a much better understanding of what life was like at that time and place.

After we listened to the book, we answered a few questions to get Junior Ranger badges. You can find the Oregon Trail Junior Ranger information here.

My 8th-grader also read, “The Journal of Jedediah Barstow: An Emigrant On The Oregon Trail” (My Name is America series). He enjoyed the journey from a male perspective.

I had hoped to squeeze in a visit to END OF THE OREGON TRAIL VISITOR AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER in Oregon City, about a 30 min drive south of Portland. Alas, we ran out of time and we’ll have to go there next time!