4th Grade Overnight Program Tour
MESD Outdoor School > Programs > 4th Grade Overnight > Program Tour > Field Study Activities

Field Study Activities

The 4th Grade Overnight program has three to four primary field study areas.
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In the Wilderness explores various reasons that people came west toward Oregon and looks at the livelihoods of the early settlers of the Oregon country.

On the Trail takes us back to the days of the pioneer and what was included in preparing for and traveling across the land to Oregon.

At the Homestead draws us into the difficult life faced by the pioneers as they arrived in Oregon Country and began building their new homes.

At the cabin focuses on life at the homestead after the cabin was built and takes a look at all the work done at a homestead to meet the basic needs of life.

Things you might find on field study:
  1.  The Fur Trade  (Social Studies, Science, Reading)
  2.  Panning  (Social Studies, Science)
  3.  Make a Rope  (Social Studies, Pioneer Crafts)
  4.  Make a wooden dowel  (Pioneer Crafts)
  5.  Map that Trail (Social Studies)
  6.  Candles  (Social Studies, Life Skills, Pioneer Crafts)
  7.  Map an Acre  (Mathematics, Social Studies)
  8.  Packing the Wagon  (Social Studies, Mathematics)
  9.  Nature Journals (Social Studies, Language Arts, Art and Science)
  10.  Plant / Animal Walk  (Science, Ecology)
  11.  Children’s Toys on the Trail  (Social Studies)
  12.  Pioneer Dolls (Life Skills, Social Studies, Pioneer Crafts)
  13.  Washing Day (Social Studies, Life Skills)
  14.  Bread & Butter (Pioneer Crafts, Outdoor Cooking)
  15.  Pioneer Logging Tools  (Social Studies, Living History) 
  16.  Build a Cabin  (Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Life Skills)
  17.  Grain Milling  (Social Studies, Life Skills)

Other Oregon trail activities:
  1. Cook your own dinner (recreation, life skills)
  2. Evening campfire program that may feature songs, Native American  stories, pioneer journal readings, skits, etc. (multi-cultural  education, music, performing arts)
  3. Dance the Virginia Reel (music, physical education)
  4. Field Day and Picnic (recreation, living history)