This 3-page 5th grade social studies worksheet is built around one map of the western United States. The map shows the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, the California Trail to Sacramento and the Santa Fe Trail to Santa Fe, plus the Rocky Mountains, a map key and a scale bar. Page 2 has six questions on starting points, endings, mountains and distance. Page 3 gives the answers, with a range for the distance question. It ties to C3 D2.Geo.2.3-5.
D2.Geo.2.3-5
“Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.”
Students use the key, labels, mountain symbols and scale bar to answer all six questions, including the mountains the Oregon Trail crossed in question 3.
A faint outline map with three trails in different line styles, solid for the Oregon Trail, dashed for the California Trail and dotted for the Santa Fe Trail. Cities are labeled, mountain symbols mark the Rocky Mountains, a north arrow points up and a scale bar runs from 0 to 500 miles.
Six questions in two columns with three lines each. Students name the city two trails started from, the trail that ended in Santa Fe, the mountain range on the Oregon Trail, the state where the California Trail split away, where the California Trail ended, and about how long the Oregon Trail was, using the scale bar.
Independence, Missouri; the Santa Fe Trail; the Rocky Mountains; Idaho; Sacramento, California; and about 2,000 miles, with answers from 1,900 to 2,200 accepted.
Measure with string
Let students lay a piece of string along the Oregon Trail, then hold it against the scale bar. A straight ruler gives a lower answer because the trail curves, which is worth a short talk.
Trace each trail
Have students trace the three trails in different colors before they answer. Question 1 then comes down to seeing which two lines start at the same dot.
After a pioneer reading
Use it after a reading on pioneer journeys. Ask which trail students would have chosen and why, using only what the map shows.
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