Wagon Masters of the Santa Fe Trail

Introduction | Guiding Questions | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

 Introduction

You have a very important role to play as the leaders and decision makers. Everyone is depending on your guidance to travel the trail safely. Your research will help you assume these identities and discover what it was like to lead a group down the trail.

• Read the historical diaries and documents to learn about the kinds of dangers and surprises they encountered.
• Choose 3 historical character game pieces.
• Use green cards for the Scout/Wagon Masters
• Create 10-12 color-coded cards for each character, half positive and half negative.
• Information on the game cards must reflect actual historical events.
• Here's an example, William Becknell encounters Spanish dragoons who take him to San Miguel de Bado to trade. Move forward three spaces. Or rain delays travel for two days, move back two spaces.
• Submit 5 other historical events for the game board to the cartographers.

 Guiding Questions

• What would have been one possible delay on their journey?
• What supplies would they have needed for the long trail?
• Where would they have gotten their supplies if they were low?
•  How would they have crossed the rivers and mountains?
• What were some of the towns and way stations along the trail?
 

 Resources

Remember to take notes and keep track of the resources you use.

On-line

Santa Fe Trail- History of the Santa Fe Trail

Journal - Excerpts from the original diaries of William Becknell.

Trading Company- More original historical documents to research.

Off-line

Tree in the Trail by: C. Hollings Clancy

      Return to the SFT Page. Last updated April 25, 1998