Happy New Year!!

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have gone on this trip as well. I was really touched by the sacrifices made by those that paved the way for us to enjoy this beautiful part of the country. Having Tim share the lost of his son helped me feel for those that lost children or loved ones along the way. Before they seem far away and detached, but as I grew to care for Tim I was affected by his grief. It made me stop and reflect how the loss of life along the trail must have affected the whole company. Thank you for sharing, Tim.
The way I'm going to implement my experience is to have the students in my class "travel the trail". Each student will draw a handcart and cut it out, then starting at Nauvoo they will move their handcarts across the wall passing different landmarks along the way. They will get to move their cart by exhibiting excellent behavior in the classroom, making progress toward a goal, reading a certain number of books, or whatever other criteria I choose. When events happen to them or they get to move I am going to have them read primary documents to learn more about the place or others that had similar experiences then have them write a journal entry. When the whole class has reached certain landmarks we will have a class activity. I'll teach them a square dance when they have all passed Independence Rock for example. If they receive a "refocus"(a behavior tracking program) then something happens in their cart like someone becomes ill or lose your cow. Then the next move they have to use it to fix the problem. Kind of like the old Oregon Trail game. I can use several of the strategies we learned to enhance the trip like the happiness scale. The boys don't like to dance so they might rate reaching Independence Rock as a bad thing. This is a year long thing I plan to do. I will use many of the site in the Emigrants Guide book. I think it will be fun.