The Oregon Trail Decisions Game: Wagon Master Challenge!

Welcome, aspiring pioneers! You are about to embark on a journey across the American West. Every choice you make will impact the fate of your wagon party. Your goal is to reach Oregon City with as many supplies and healthy family members as possible!

Players: Individuals or Small Groups
Time: 20 minutes

How to Play:

1. Read each scenario carefully.
2. Discuss the options with your group (if playing in groups) or consider them individually.
3. Choose the option you think is best for your wagon party.
4. Be prepared to explain why you made your choice.

Scenario 1: Leaving Independence, Missouri

It's April, 1848. You've gathered your family and supplies, and you're ready to head west from Independence, Missouri. The trail ahead is long and uncertain. You have enough food for 4 months and 2 spare wagon wheels.

What do you do?

• A) Depart immediately. The weather is good now, and you want to get a head start before the worst heat of summer. You risk early storms but hope to make good time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B) Wait two more weeks. You want to ensure the spring rains have passed and the trails are less muddy. You also hope to gather a few more essential supplies and perhaps find another family to travel with for safety.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Your Choice: __________

Why?

Scenario 2: A River Crossing

You arrive at a wide, fast-flowing river. The ferry costs a significant amount of your precious money, but it seems safe. Other pioneers are waiting to ford the river themselves, but some have lost wagons in the process.

What do you do?

• A) Pay for the ferry. It's expensive, but your family and supplies will likely cross safely. You trust the ferryman.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B) Attempt to ford the river. It's free, but there's a risk of losing supplies or even a family member in the strong current. You figure you can build a raft or use your oxen to pull the wagon through.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Your Choice: __________

Why?

Scenario 3: Sickness Strikes!

One of your children has fallen ill with a high fever. You're days away from the next fort or trading post, and your medicine supply is dwindling. The child is very weak.

What do you do?

• A) Push on as quickly as possible. You believe reaching the fort for proper medical help is the best chance, even if it means tiring out the rest of the family and oxen.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B) Rest for a few days. You hope the child will recover with rest and the limited remedies you have. This will significantly delay your journey and use up more food supplies.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Your Choice: __________

Why?

Scenario 4: A Broken Wagon Wheel

Disaster! Your wagon hits a rock, and a wheel shatters. You have one spare wheel left. You are in a remote area, far from any settlements or other wagon trains.

What do you do?

• A) Use your last spare wheel immediately. You can continue your journey with minimal delay, but you will have no backup if another wheel breaks.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B) Try to repair the broken wheel. This will take several days, and you're not sure if it will hold up. It saves your spare, but you lose valuable time and risk further breakdowns.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Your Choice: __________

Why?

Scenario 5: Meeting Native Americans

You encounter a group of Native Americans. They appear watchful but do not seem immediately hostile. Some of your party are nervous, remembering stories of conflict, while others suggest trading.

What do you do?

• A) Keep your distance and proceed cautiously. You wave respectfully but make no attempts to interact, trying to avoid any potential misunderstanding.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B) Approach them to offer a trade. You have some extra tobacco and trinkets and hope to exchange them for fresh game or information about the trail ahead.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Your Choice: __________

Why?

Reflect and Share

• Which decision was the hardest to make and why?
• What did you learn about the challenges of the Oregon Trail from this game?
• How do you think your experience compares to real pioneers? Explain your reasoning.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

A Pioneer's Letter Home

August 15, 1850

Near Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory

Dearest Sister Sarah,

It feels like an eternity since we left the familiar comforts of Independence, though it has only been four months. The journey west is unlike anything I could have imagined. Each day brings new trials and new wonders. My hands, once soft from needlework, are now calloused from guiding the oxen and helping to mend the wagon. Thomas’s face is weathered by the sun, and the children, bless their adventurous spirits, are surprisingly resilient, though little Mary frets for her dolls left behind.

The vastness of this land is breathtaking, yet also daunting. We have crossed endless prairies, seen towering mountains in the distance, and forded rivers whose currents threaten to swallow our precious wagon whole. Just last week, we nearly lost a wheel trying to navigate a particularly rocky pass. Thomas worked tirelessly for two days to repair it, under the relentless sun. We are thankful for his strength and ingenuity.

Sickness, as you can imagine, is a constant companion on the trail. We’ve seen many graves beside the path, a somber reminder of the fragility of life out here. Our own little Johnnie had a fever for several days, and my heart ached with worry. We gave him what little quinine we had, and by the grace of God, he seems to be recovering now, though he is still weak.

Food is always on our minds. We hunt when we can, and our supplies, though carefully rationed, dwindle faster than we’d like. The buffalo herds are magnificent, but hunting them is dangerous work. We trade sparingly with other wagon trains we encounter, sharing stories and fears around crackling campfires under a sky full of stars I have never seen so bright.

We have met some of the Native American tribes along the way. Some have been curious, others cautious. We try to be respectful, offering small gifts when appropriate. There is much we do not understand about their ways, and I pray for peaceful passage for all. It is their land, after all, that we are passing through.

Despite the hardships, there is a fierce hope that burns within us. The promise of new land, a place to truly call our own, keeps our spirits up. The thought of a homestead in Oregon, fertile soil, and a fresh start for our children fuels our every step. We often talk of the farm we will build and the quiet life we hope to lead. I miss you and our family dearly, and I long for the day when letters can cross this vast continent with ease, bringing news of home.

Pray for us, dear sister. We pray for your well-being also. Keep Mother and Father close.

With enduring love,

Eleanor

P.S. Tell young William that the tales of wild adventure are true, but the work is harder than any book can describe!