You are moving from the East to the Western frontier. You are to write 3 journal entries telling where you are going, why you are going there, and what do you hope to achieve.

Pa says we're gettin ready to head to Oregon Country so that we might get ourselves some of that good farming land. Ma isn't real happy about moving away from her hometown, but I am starting to get slightly excited! I am afraid of this long and dangerous journey. I am thankful that I get to take along the doll my grandmother made for me before she passed away last summer. My little brother Joey is bringing along his blanket and ma is bringing her fine china that has been passed down through her family. I am so afraid that once we start our journey that Joey might get hurt or lost. He's a wandering type, and not very good at following directions! And I will certainly miss my friends from home. My best friend Elizabeth says I must write to her everyday.

Yours,

Abigail Wright

April 7th, 1847

Tell about each member of your family. Describe what they look like, their age, and what they do as a member of the family. Tell why you and your family is traveling to Oregon, what items your family plans to bring with them, what some of your fears are, and what you will miss most from your home.

April 8th, 1847

Today was a big day! You and yer' family did all yer' supply shopping to head west to Oregon Country! That's excitin' stuff. Anywho, tell about the supplies you purchased today. Tell what you're most excited about buying and why. Do you agree with all the supplies that were purchased, or are you worried you may not have gotten enough...or maybe too much!

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May 1, 1847

Your pack horses are rubbed down and ready and your oxen team in place. Your belongings are packed. Your food rations carefully secured. Many of the parties in your wagon train are already lined up and ready to move out. But you still have to get one more vital item: your drinking water!

Will you top off your kegs from the drinking water available here at Independence Camp? Or wait until you get to the next stop this evening?

Journal Entry: Tell what your families decision was. Did you top off yer kegs or decide to wait? Why did you make that decision. What did the other members of your wagon train decide to do? Tell what happened to your family and every one else after the decisions were made?

May 20, 1847 - The Narrows

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Progress has slowed to a crawl in this bottle neck between the Little Blue River and the bluff on its east bank. There is barely enough room for a single wagon to pass. Even the cattle have to go through in single file.

One of your party has been bit on the ankle by a rattlesnake. Is it deadly? You've tried every know remedy to try and heal the wound in a frantic attempt to keep his leg. Should it be sawed off with a common handsaw to be saved? What is your remedy?

Decision: The Rudd Family is so upset about their little Cindy Rudd, they have decided to give the poor girl some whiskey to numb the pain as well as using gun powder and burning the bite to hopefully draw out the poison.

Journal Entry: Tell about the days events. Describe where you are and what happened to Cindy Rudd. What did their family decide to do? Do you agree with their decision? Or would you have done something differently? What do you think will happen to Cindy?

June 10, 1847 - Midway station

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Alas you are midway between Fort Kearny and Fort Laramie looking out along the banks of the beautiful Platte River...where wildflowers dance in the wind on the shore and tufted islands dot the river's bubbling path.

Young and old alike take this opportunity to shed weeks of prairie