Exploring History Through Adventure: The Oregon Trail

At Renbrook School, learning transcends textbooks, coming alive through dynamic, interdisciplinary experiences. Our Grade Three Westward Expansion unit, affectionately known as The Oregon Trail, is a prime example of how we transform history into an engaging, skill-building journey for students. From interactive simulations to imaginative storytelling, this beloved unit sparks curiosity, collaboration, and a love for learning that students remember for years.

Why Did Settlers Move West? Sparking Curiosity and Inquiry

The unit begins with the essential question: “Why did settlers move west?” To ignite curiosity, students participate in a “chalk talk” activity, analyzing a picture of a covered wagon and sharing their observations. From there, they dive into fiction and nonfiction texts that illuminate the challenges and triumphs of westward expansion, applying reading comprehension and critical thinking skills throughout the journey.

Becoming Settlers: Identity, Decision-Making, and Problem-Solving

Each student adopts a settler identity, complete with a family, occupation, livestock, and responsibilities. This identity shapes their decisions as they prepare for the journey by packing their wagons with appropriate items, ensuring weight limitations are met.

The learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Students venture into the great outdoors on Renbrook’s campus, which transforms into “The Oregon Trail.” In wagon teams, they construct covers for “Radio Flyer” wagons and haul them along hiking trails. Collaboration and communication are key as they navigate challenges, make decisions, and face simulated disasters, all while encountering landmarks like Independence Rock and the Snake River.

Bringing History to Life Through Writing

Writing is woven seamlessly into the unit through diary entries. Students channel their settler personas, recounting their experiences and emotions as they journey west. Teachers use this engaging context to teach writing fundamentals, including sentence structure, paragraphing, and punctuation. Over the course of five entries, with feedback from teachers and peers, students refine their skills and marvel at their progress.

Research and Digital Literacy: Diving Deeper

Third graders also hone their research and digital literacy skills under the guidance of Mrs. Ferrante and Mrs. Louis. Following the Renbrook Inquiry Model, students develop questions on topics ranging from trail dangers to homestead life. They gather information, write scripts, and record green-screen presentations to share their findings creatively and confidently.

Prairie Day: Celebrating Success

The unit culminates in Prairie Day, a joyous celebration of the students’ hard work and growth. Students share their Oregon Trail scrapbooks and research projects with parents, followed by a lively Virginia Reel dance in the gym. This authentic 19th-century dance brings history full circle, showcasing the perseverance and camaraderie settlers relied on during their journey west.

A Unit to Remember

Renbrook’s Oregon Trail unit is more than a lesson in history; it’s an unforgettable adventure that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. By combining math, reading, writing, digital literacy, and social studies, this interdisciplinary approach equips students with a wide range of skills. Most importantly, it leaves them with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation for the stories of the past.

At Renbrook, we don’t just teach history—we live it.