Planning authentic and relevant interdisciplinary learning takes a lot of coordination and flexibility, but the time invested is well worth it. In 6th grade, students benefit from the integration of social studies and math, with some embedded ELA. As students study Westward Expansion, they earn money for their future journey along the Oregon Trail, saving it to purchase necessary supplies to ensure safe passage across the wild frontier. However, not all purchases are easily made; converting units of measurement is essential when trying to determine cost ratios.
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| If only you could hear the diction of this wild west woman - it's truly authentic. |
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| If I want 500 lbs of flour, what's my cost? |
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| Designing the supply list requires students to play a historical game of chess - How many lbs of found will be needed in the coming months? What strategy is essential for balancing needs with feasibility of transport? |
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| So many options, so little money and space... |
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| To get into character, students get a frontier name and determine family status. |
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| Students read to build background knowledge. |
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As students journal in the coming lessons, they document their unique journey. By the roll of the dice, they may cross a too-deep river to find they've lost valuable supplies, or have the good luck to find a shallow spot, ensuring they continue the journey without loss.
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Love this!
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