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4th
Quarter Project, Spring 2001 Due:
May 25,
2001
No Late Papers!!! Mr. Brown: Go to the Donner Party Web Quest Page http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/donner/ or here for more Donner Party Information and discover what happened and then try to understand why? You will discover information on the issues they faced and make a PowerPoint presentation (20 slide min., one paragraph per slide) that explains what you found. There
is also more links and helpful information at the Donner
Party Links Page. You should address the following issues: (use
primary source materials to support your responses when possible) 1) What was the route
they took? Several different maps of the route should be included with
explanations. 2) What would it have
been like to be a member of the Donner party? 3) What were the major decisions that they were faced with at various points along the trail, which option did they choose, and why did they choose that option 4) Compare the route
with another trail (advantages/disadvantages, cost, time, difficulty of
terrain, availability of water and food for livestock, hazards, and other
factors) or with another mode of transportation (advantages/disadvantages,
cost, time, hazards, and other factors) 6) Read the diaries and
other links in the diaries section. Where do you think things went wrong and
why? This presentation must be supported with links and
citations of where you got your information. Mr.
Radman:
1. Students will read,
answer chapter questions, and take a test on
“Ordeal by Hunger”. 2.
Students will view a one-hour documentary on the Donner Party and
answer a questionnaire that goes with the film. 3.
Students will write at least a half page explaining what they would
pack to take with them
on a journey similar to that of the Donner Party. Mr.
Pugh: Students will go on a scavenger hunt using Access and Excel and a huge database on the Donner Party. We will be looking at such things as who died and when and what these individuals had in common. The hunt will consist of a questionnaire and a full-page write-up. Donner Party Scavenger Hunt Document Mrs.
Puente: This
segment of the fourth quarter project will require each student to participate
in the field trip to Donner Pass, May 2001.
Handouts will be given and must be completed
at the site. Here
are some notes to help you compare trails:
Pioneers were following the Humboldt River.
There was lots of grass and water available.
The Sierras were a barrier between them and California, also there were
deserts. How do they get by these
barriers? Various trails tried to
solve this problem. 1)
Applegate/Lassen: This
trail goes north to avoid high mountains (Sierras), but trail goes through
some pretty rough canyons, and across a desert (Black Rock) (hot springs).
Fandango Pass is rather low and easy to cross compared to other passes.
From there, the Applegate Trail continues into Oregon. (The people
following this trail were interested in farming in the Willamette River
Valley. Lassen Trail goes south
after the pass, heading to Lassen's Ranch near Chico.
A long trip, they followed the Pit River for a while and then wandered
down to the ranch. A lot of
people used this trail during the goldrush. [1948, 1949, followed the group
ahead, rescued, ranch work vs gold] Good account of this trail is The World
Rushed In by J. S. Holliday 2)
Nobles Trail is a later trail (approx 1852) Noble was trying to get
people to settle in Shasta City. Notice
that Nobles and Lassens are the same in 2 spots.
(Honey Lake Wagon Road) 3)
Beckwourth - His mother was a slave, but his father had a relatively
high social status, and he was legally a free person.
He had a variety of jobs (fur trapper, army scout, miner)
He lived with a band of Crow Indians for awhile.
He discovered a pass (named after him) which developed into a trail to
Bidwell Bar and the Marysville area. (approx 1851-52) 4)
Henness Pass Route is also a later route (approx. 1852) 5)
Truckee/Donner route was first used by the Stevens/Murphy party in
1844, but more well known for the Donner party.
Although the pass was called Donner Pass, a mountain was later named
after Elisha Stevens. This trail
you'll hear a lot more about. High
mountains, rough terrain, but the most direct route (air miles) to Sacramento.
6)
Carson River Trail: Has
desert and high pass, but fewer river crossings and a somewhat easier trail
than Donner. It was well used
early in 1849, then somehow people got side tracked onto the Lassen Trail. 7)
Sonora Trail, followed Walker River for a while, then over pass to
Sonora. 8)
Southern trails into California entered south of the Sierras, but gold
was in Northern California, so that's where most people were headed. A good reference to get you started is The California Trail by George R. Stewart, or look for books on individual trails. Also go to the Links page |