Wagon Wheels

Getting wheels on the wagon. See below for a teacher reflection on the process.

It's not until late in the year that a teacher can dare drop everything and build, say, five prairie schooner wagons. The community just isn't ready for big projects until then – students don't know each other well enough to communicate effectively and find their roles in a work environment buzzing with energy. Students have to share, problem-solve, learn from mistakes, set realistic goals, and sometimes ask for help. The trick, as far as I can tell, is providing enough scaffolding for students to be autonomous in such a setting; that is to say, they'll do as much as they can to solve a problem before they ask for a teacher's help.

Last week, I was amazed how well that went. One day we sawed, the next day we screwed, the next day we had wagon beds. A few students grabbed books when they couldn't find roles in their groups, but on the whole, everyone contributed. Today was a different story. Students battled over pliers and wrenches, my name cried out from all directions (a sure sign that student problem solving is reduced to "just ask the teacher"), and one table was just a place to sit and gossip about topics totally unrelated to Oregon, wagons, or the old folks back home. A few students did the work for everyone else. Tomorrow, we'll change some things, reset some expectations, and try it again!

Homework:
Math
Write about the Sublette Cutoff in your Oregon Trail diary. The scenario is below.
Wagon Train reading and questions due Thursday. Download everything below.
Wagon Train Questions; Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Parting of the Ways (Sublette Cutoff)

(9miles northeast of Farson, Wyoming)

Mile 932

July 8

You've had a lot of decisions to make along this arduous route, but up until now, you never had to
decide which way to go. Well, that isn't true anymore. The trail forks here and you must choose
between two routes. Both routes convene at the Thomas Fork Crossing. So your wagon train could
separate and meet there if you like.

Here are your two choices: 1.) THE FORT BRIDGER ROUTE This is the long route. It goes south
to Fort Bridger and will probably take at least 5 more days than the shorter route. The area it passes
through is inhabited by local Indians who are becoming more and more hostile towards oncoming
wagon trains. But there is definitely plenty of water along the way and enough grass for grazing
your animals and the possibility of buying fresh supplies at Fort Bridger. 2.) THE SUBLETTE
CUTOFF. This is the shortcut. It saves you about 46 miles (5 travel days). But it passes through the
waterless Little Colorado Desert and stretches for over 50 arid miles - which means that there is no
grass for grazing your animals. Furthermore, it is rumored that hostile Indians frequent this trail. 

Fate: Ft. Bridger Route

The livestock are tired but healthy, and everyone is feeling good about
the decision you made to take the long route. It took you ten days, but
now you've made it to Fort Bridger. You all take this opportunity to
bathe, restock your water kegs, and boil up a big pot of antelope stew. 

On the downside, one of the men on night watch thought he heard
Indians lurking around the camp in the wee hours of the morning. When
he tried to investigate, he found nothing. Every family, however,
reported an heirloom or luxury item missing.

Food and supplies available at Fort Bridger: (wow, stuff sure is
expensive this far into the trail! why?)

10 lb. bag of flour: $2.00

5 lb. bag of cornmeal: $1.00

1 lb. bag of dried apples: $.50

1 lb. molasses: $.50

1 lb. bacon: $2.50

1 lb. beans: $.50

rifle: $13.00

lead for bullets (20 lbs.) $4.00

bullet mold $2.00

100 feet of rope $4.00

sewing kit $3.00

boots $6.00

Subtract 11 food and time points.

Decide on which heirloom or luxury item is missing and subtract it from your
supply list. Add any supplies or food purchased to your supply list and subtract
the cost from your budget. Add any points earned from purchasing food. 1 point
for every ten pounds.