Woodhull Fifth Graders Create
Wagon Train
Wagon trains are part of American history, as countless men, women and children used them for transportation and shelter on their trips to the western reaches of the North American continent.
Woodhull Intermediate School fifth graders in classes taught by Elaine McKeown and Paula Shivers recently learned more about covered wagons when they recreated their own version of the Oregon Trail during an assignment.
"Students were asked to create a Conestoga wagon using any materials they could find," Mrs. McKeown said. "Directions and examples were given and students learned all about the events leading up to the Oregon Fever in social studies."
Conestoga wagons were named after the Conestoga River in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's believed that Mennonite German settlers created them for use in traveling from one place to another. They were heavy and the wheels were set broadly apart, allowing for large loads to be carried. Horses, oxen or mules pulled them along their route. They could even cross rivers or deep streams since the wagons had a boat-like design.
The Woodhull fifth graders outdid themselves building model wagons. "Students presented their masterpieces and both classes connected their wagon lines and imagined they were traveling out west," Mrs. McKeown said. "The class spoke about their journey and their hardships."
Mrs. McKeown said the project is an annual assignment and feedback from both students and parents has been positive. "This was such a blast," said one of the boys in the class about making the wagon and linking it with those of his classmates. One of the fifth grade girls said that she "loved making my edible wagon out of pretzels."