THE OREGANO TRAIL IN THE CLASSROOM
A free westward-expansion game for iPad and iPhone.
The Oregano Trail puts students in charge of a wagon party in 1848, on the 2,040-mile road from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon's Willamette Valley. To get there they budget money, plan supplies, weigh risks at river crossings, and live with the results. It's a natural companion to lessons on westward expansion, the Oregon Trail, and pioneer life.
WHY IT WORKS IN CLASS
- Free, start to finish. Every student can play the whole trail at no cost.
- No ads, no accounts, no chat. Nothing to sign up for, and nobody to talk to.
- No purchase prompts on managed iPads. When in-app purchases are turned off on a device, the game hides the Trail Pass offers.
- Plays offline. No Wi-Fi needed once it's installed.
- Saves automatically. Students can stop when the bell rings and pick up the trail next class.
- Real places. Forts, rivers, and landmarks along the historic route: Fort Kearney, Chimney Rock, Independence Rock, South Pass, Fort Hall, The Dalles.
IDEAS FOR LESSONS
- Budgeting. Give the class the same profession and compare shopping lists before they leave Independence.
- Risk and probability. River depth changes the odds of tipping. Ask students to explain when they would ford, float, or pay for the ferry.
- Trail journals. Students write a diary entry at each landmark about what happened and why.
- Maps. Track the route on a map of the United States and compare it with the historic trail.
- Decisions. The trail asks hard questions, like helping a stranded family or taking a shortcut. Discuss the choices pioneers faced.
FREE PRINTABLE WORKSHEET
The classroom worksheet has a wagon budget, a trail journal for every stop, and discussion questions. Pair it with the landmarks guide and the history of the 1848 trail.
GETTING IT ON SCHOOL DEVICES
The Oregano Trail is on the App Store and can be distributed through Apple School Manager like any free app. Search for "The Oregano Trail" in Apps and Books, get the number of licenses you need, and assign it with your device management system.
CONTACT US
Teaching with the trail? We'd love to hear how your class uses it and what would help your students.
mike@theoreganotrailgame.online
Tell us your grade level and how many devices you're using. Questions about deploying through Apple School Manager are welcome too.
Privacy: the game collects no personal information. See the privacy policy.
Free for iPhone & iPad