The Santa Fe Trail was a route taken by many people during the California Gold Rush in search of wealth and fortune. Travelers packed supplies and provisions into wagons pulled by oxen and sometimes brought their children along. The journey was long and difficult, with landmarks and rivers along the way where people would camp for a night or two. Upon arriving, some resorted to fighting and gambling over gold. Those who survived the dangerous journey sometimes returned home with injuries. Graves were left for those who did not survive the difficult conditions of the American frontier.

1. The Santa Fe trail
By Zachary G Theisen
& Kseniya L Farrell

2.  The folks all around wanted to go on the
Santa Fe trail to California because there
was gold and all of them wanted it to be
rich. So they packed every thing they
needed, and left for the trail. When they
were on the trail there were lot of
landmarks and rivers they stopped a and
camped at the landmark for a night or
two.
GOLD

3.  They also fought over the gold. It was not
pretty. Some people bet over the gold. Played
card games to get some more gold for their
family. Some kid fought too along with their
dad. Kids fought with other kids. When they
got home they would come back with scars
and cuts. The mothers were not happy about
the kids getting hurt. And cared for them
instantly!

Listen to the sounds

4.  Here are some of the things that they
brought to California
 hammer
 food
 wagon
 oxen
 Sometimes they brought their kids
 pan
kids

5. But they also did have tragic ends in the
west. Lucky that we did not live in that
time because it was dangerous and hard.
They also put graves were they died.

6. Frontier school-
-Lunchtime- an old tobacco tin a lard pal serve as the girls
lunchboxes.
-some teachers barely older than their pupils. Often they hoped to
learn as much as they taught.
-The teachers could not teach if they were married. They were often
15 or younger.
-classrooms were very small.(almost as small as your bedroom).
-on a ordinary school day many youngsters were up at 4am milking
cows, chopping wood , toting water , and helping fix breakfast
before leaving for school. After a full day of classes, they might
do other chores by moonlight so as not to miss the next day’s
classes.
- Youngsters of all ages were thought by a single teacher. Schools
like frontier homes some times had dirt floors . Since the no
running water, everyone drank from the same bucket and dipper
kept in the corner of the room.
- - The “playground” was the field outside. The “restroom” was an
outhouse. Dog of many breeds and sizes hung around the school
house, whining at the door and sneaking inside to lie at their
owners feet.

7. ◦THE END