The Santa Fe Trail

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The Santa Fe Trail

• A Brief History Using Maps and Math
• Jean Flores

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Goal

• To learn about the old Santa Fe Trail through the
  use of maps and math.

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Kansas State Standards

• History The student uses a working knowledge
  and understanding of significant individuals,
  groups, ideas, events, eras, and development in
  the history of Kansas, the United States, and the
  world utilizing essential analytical skills.
• Benchmark 4 The student understands the
  impact of exploration and migration upon the
  history of Kansas.
• Indicator 5 describes the development of
  trails, railroads, and highway systems to connect
  Kansas to the rest of the country.

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Kansas State Standards

• Geography The student uses a working knowledge
  and understanding of the spatial organization of
  Earths surface and relationships between people
  and places and physical and human environments in
  order to explain the interactions that occur in
  Kansas, the United States, and in our world.
• Benchmark 1 Geographic Tools and Location
  The student uses maps, graphic representations,
  tools, and technologies to locate, use, and
  present information about people, places, and
  environments.
• Indicator 5 uses geographic tools to answer
  questions about past and present spatial
  distributions (e.g., mountain ranges, river
  systems, transportation routes).

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Kansas State Standards

• Math A.1.4.1
• Use arithmetic operations and inverse
  relationships to formulate and solve real-world
  problems.

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Vocabulary

• adobe mud mixed with straw
• commerce trade or business
• cultural the way people live their religion,
  food, music, art, and other customs.
• plain a large area of mostly level land.
• dry goods cloth, clothing, and similar items.
• road ranches trading ranches
• archeologists study the past through the
  remains of buildings and objects they uncover.
• artifacts objects made by humans. When they
  are uncovered by archeologists, they help tell
  historys story.
• draft animals pulled wagons or other loads.
• railhead the farthest point on a railroad to
  which track was laid.
• trailhead a town at the start of a trail.

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Activity 1

• Santa Fe Trail map.
• Pass out a map of the original trail. Have
  open and free discussion about what the students
  already know about the trail. Trace the Cimarron
  Route in red and the Mountain Route in blue.
• (Map is found on page 4-5 of resource 2.)

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Old Santa Fe Trail
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Activity 2

• Read A Trail Into History, an excerpt from
  Santa Fe Trail Adventures by Dave Webb. Answer
  the fill in the blank questions to familiarize
  students with the trail. Let students work in
  partners. Conclude the activity by orally
  checking students answers.
• (Article is page 4-8 in source questions are
  worksheet page 74.)

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Activity 3

• Santa Fe Trail timelines
• Pass out timeline from 1610-1848. Have
  students fill in time line on own. Then they
• Will get with a partner and compare, discuss, and
  correct. Conclude activity by orally discussing
  answers.
• Pass out time line from 1849-1987. Follow
  same format as previous timeline.
• (These timelines may be done the same day or as
  two separate activities.)
• (Timelines are pages 12-13 in source 1.)

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Activity 4

• Trail Work and Wages
• Pass out worksheets and information sheet.
  Fill in first, second, and third columns with the
  students (write on board so they can copy). Then
  students will figure out the last two columns on
  their own using scratch paper and then putting
  the correct answer in the box.
• (Worksheet page 49, information sheet page 45 of
  source 1.)

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Activity 5

• Cimarron or Mountain Route
• Students will receive a chart of mileage to
  plug onto the Santa Fe Trail map. (Use the same
  map as was used for activity 1.) Then they will
  each write and answer five math problems using
  the mileage information. Volunteers will be
  asked to read one of their problems and the class
  will work it on dry erase boards. After
  sufficient working time, the student author of
  the problem will read the answer aloud so the
  class can check.
• (Mileage chart found in source 3.)

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Resources

• 1. Santa Fe Trail Adventures by Dave Webb
• (Teaching American History Grant)
• 2. Santa Fe Trail National Historic Trail
• (Teaching American History Grant)
• 3. Santa Fe National Historic Trail Compre
• hensive Management and Use Plan
• National Park Service