Jim Abbott WebQuest 

We are going to be learning all about Jim Abbott, a professional baseball player who overcame challenges despite having obstacles.

Please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Read the following interview to learn about Jim Abbott.

Interview


Step 2: Watch the following video.

Step 3: On the provided half sheet, write what the main idea or importance is of what you have just learned. Try to make a connection to something in your life or something that you have learned about.

Oregon Trail Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the Oregon Trail Scavenger Hunt!

Please make sure that you read all directions and DO NOT SKIP any steps.

Your task: Imagine that you are a pioneer traveling with your family on the Oregon Trail. This web quest will take you on the incredible, yet dangerous journey.

Step 1:

Watch the following video to get background knowledge on the Oregon Trail. (Click the word 'video' to see it.) 

Video

Step 2:

Read pages 4 – 5 in “Life in the Old West, Wagon Train.”

Step 3:

Complete worksheet part 1 – Reasons to Go West

Step 4:

After you finish worksheet 1, read pages 14-15 in “Life in the Old West, Wagon Train.”

Step 5:

Complete worksheet part 2 – Animals on the Oregon Trail

Step 6:

Read pages 22, 24, and 27 in “Life in the Old West, Wagon Train.”

Step 7:

Complete worksheet part 3 – Challenges on the Oregon Trail

Step 8:

Read pages 28 and 29 in “Life in the Old West, Wagon Train.”

Step 9:

Complete worksheet part 4 – Native Americans and the Oregon Trail

Step 10:

If you have time, you can watch the following video. 

Congratulations!

You have completed the Oregon Trail Web Quest and made it out West.

Gold Rush Scavenger Hunt

Who You Are:

It’s time to put on your pretending hat! You are going on a mission. The year is 1849, and gold has been found in California. You are excited by this news and have decided to travel west in search of riches and wealth. 

Your Mission:
 

You will be going on a virtual scavenger hunt to learn about what life was like for the 49ers traveling to California in search for gold. Will you be able to complete this dangerous mission out west?

To begin, watch the following video. Think about what you think the BIG IDEAS are before we get started on our journey. (Press play button to watch video.) 

Task 1: How will you get there?

Your first mission in this scavenger hunt is to decide how you will get west. Will you travel by land or by sea?

Steps:

    Step 1:  Read pages 8-9 in “Life in the Old West: Gold Rush."

    Step 2:  Click on the following links for more information:

          By Land

               By Sea 

              Names of the trails

Step 3:   Complete the graphic organizer titled, Travel Worksheet to make your decision.

Task 2: Let’s get digging!

Now that you have arrived at your destination, it is time to get to work looking for gold!

           

Steps:

Step 1: Read page 13 in “Life in the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 2: Record your thinking about strategies for finding gold on the worksheet titled, Diggin’ for Gold.

Step 3: Read page 14 in “Life in the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 4: Draw a picture of which tool you think would be most helpful to you and explain why on the worksheet titled, Diggin’ for Gold.

Task 3: What will life be like?  

Now that you are ready to work, let’s explore the roles that different groups of people played during the Gold Rush.

Steps: 

Step 1: Read pages 16 – 19 in “Life in the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 2: Complete the graphic organizer titled, The Roles of People in the Gold Rush.

Task 4: How did the Gold Rush effect Native Americans?

How were the Native Americans impacted by the Gold Rush and by Westward Expansion in general?  

Steps: 

Step 1: Watch the following video by clicking play.

Step 2: Read page 21 in “Life in the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 3: Answer the question: How were the Native Americans impacted by the Gold Rush? Record on the graphic organizer titled, The Roles of the People

Task 4: What were the effects of the Gold Rush?
 

In what ways was the Gold Rush successful? In which ways was it not?

Steps:

Step 1: Read page 22 in “Life of the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 2: Read page 30 (Effects of the Gold Rushes) in Life of the Old West: Gold Rush.”

Step 3: In your own words, write a reflection about the Gold Rush on lose leaf paper. Remember, we are still pretending, so this should be written in the first person as if you went. Be sure to include:

-       Why did you go on the Gold Rush? (causes)

-       What challenges did you face?

-       Your opinion: do you think that the Gold Rush was worth the effort to go on? Explain why or why not?

Congratulations! You have completed your journey out west for gold!  

Did you find any gold?