Class Update
Posted by Cupcake and Nila Bean on May 20th, 2012
Reading:
This week we read Stout Hearted 7, a historical fiction based on the Sager Family's 1844 trail west. Our trip to Whitman Mission applied and extended our knowledge of the 1844 trail.Comprehension Skills:
Comparing.Writing:
We are writing letters to places on the Oregon Trail. We hope to get some free information back from these historical places before our school year ends. Those letters that are coming home need stamps and sent. Hopefully, every letter receives a response. I will send home a list of addresses at the end of the year for your child to use when writing for more information. Letter writing is fun!Spelling:
No more spelling words to study.Math:
3rd Trimester math target topics include area and perimeter of rectangles; data and graphs; measurement, time, and temperature; equations; transformations, congruence, symmetry; and probability. We are practicing some algebra, playing with transformations (rotations, reflections, translations, line of symmetry). We had our assessment over Transformations (Topic 19).Social Studies:
We are learning about Washington State through our Washington State ABC penmanship books. Trickster Coyote still is visiting Seattle or She Who Watches for his S adventure.The Trail:
Dear Home,It is October 1843. The route to Oregon is clear because the Columbia River is straight ahead. Many emigrants broke away from the main wagon train at point. Those who became individuals in our class were Spencer, Broc, Hunter, Easton, Alex, and Alec. They must leave everything with the wagon except for food. Depending on each wagon's condition, some wagons went 25 miles out of their way to The Whitman Mission for provisions. Wagons 1,3, 4, and 6 decided to go to Whitman Mission. Other wagons that were not in need went to Fort Walla Walla, a British fort, where a blacksmith shop was available for those who needed repairs. Wagons 2 and 5 decided to go to Fort Walla Walla. Individuals who went to Spencer, Hunter, Alex, and Alec. Easton ate dinner with Sickus. Mason cleared the most trees over the Blue Mountains. Turner traded with a Cayuse for a pumpkin. Sincerely, 1843 Travelers in Mrs. Stredwick's room
Dear Home,
This is the most confusing week yet. Wagon 1, 3, 4, 6, Broc and Easton are at Whitman Mission. We are rested and everything is repaired. We had to buy at a high price and some of us complained about this. However, Dr. Whitman and Narcissa were not there at the time but serving somewhere else in the area. Wagon 2, 5, Spencer, Hunter, Alex and Alec are at Fort Walla Walla. They were in good shape and didn’t need the services of Whitman Mission. Now we want to move forward and meet at The Dalles, another mission set up by Jason Lee. Those at Whitman Mission must go overland to The Dalles. Wagons are pestered by Columbia River Indians who steal cattle at night then come in the day offering their services to "find" them again for a shirt. After 5 days of this, all wagons decided to bluff their way out of their predicament by stating to the natives "We shoot robbers in the night." This worked for Wagons 1, 4 and 6 and the wagons were not bothered by nighttime thieves, but Wagon 3 still has native problems. For the individuals leaving Whitman Mission, they were not as lucky. Individuals were not protected by a wagon group and were on their own with just a few important items. A group of 14 natives on horseback approached each individual and demanded some of what they had. Broc and Easton chose to resist them and ended up losing everything they had! On the real trail, that included all clothes. I was kinder and allowed them to keep their underwear. From Fort Walla Walla wagons and individuals could chose to go overland or float the Columbia River on rafts to The Dalles. No wagons decided to go overland. Wagons 2 and 4 decided to load their wagon onto a raft, leaving their cattle at the fort to be picked up later. Spencer, Hunter, Alex and Alec also decided to float the river. Though the Columbia River looks calm at this point, rapids soon were ahead. Everyone chose to ride out the rapids and luckily made it through. On the real trail, the Applegates lost one of their rafts loaded with family members when they were sucked into a huge whirlpool. Four family members lost their lives in the whirlpool: a 70 year old man, a 21 year old, and two 9 year olds. This was a sad tale to tell once they reached The Dalles. Everyone has made it to The Dalles. However, individuals have everything taken from them yet with the help of friends and strangers, regroup and are ready to face the journey ahead. The tale of the Applegate’s loss on the Columbia River haunts us because the only way to the Willamette Valley in 1843 was by river through the Cascades. In 1848 another route was available as a choice called Barlow’s Road, which cut an overland trail around the south side of Mount Hood. It had its challenges, too, one of which was a steep hill called Laurel’s Hill where wagons were tethered off to upper trees and lowered down the steep slope. Today you can hike Laurel’s Hill and see the rope burns around the huge Douglas fir trees. At the end of the trail, just before getting to Oregon City (the end of the trail), there was a toll gate where each wagon paid a toll of $5 and each head of horse, cattle, or mule had a toll of 10 cents. To travel all that way for 6 months then pay tolls at the very end with Oregon City in sight must have seemed strange to the pioneers. But in 1843 we have only one choice and that is to build log rafts using logs dragged out of the Cascade Mountains and strapped together with rope. Our wagon bed is set in the middle of the raft with the axle, tongue, and wheels lying beside it. We hire people to take our cattle down the narrow edge along the river. As of this writing I don’t know what happened in our classroom and who makes it to Fort Vancouver. Ask your child if they made it to the fort or are stuck along the side of the Columbia River hoping for a rescue. More next week. Sincerely, 1843 Travelers in Mrs. Stredwick's room
Science:
Our new district science kit is called Motion and Design. We discussed what we already know about motion and about design and are trying to figure out what this kit is about. We designed a paper boat that moves on water, then discussed how its design helps it float. I am sending home to paper airplane designs for your child to try out. How do the designs affect each plane’s motion when flown?The Salmon:
The salmon count at Bonneville Dam on May 17 was 126,048 adult Chinook salmon. Two years ago the count was 233,055 adult Chinook salmon.
