Go west: Imagining the Oregon Trail

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 3

• Goal 2: The learner will analyze the multiple roles that individuals perform in families, workplaces, and communities.
  • Objective 2.02: Analyze similarities and differences among families in different times and in different places.
  • Objective 2.03: Describe similarities and differences among communities in different times and in different places.
• Goal 3: The learner will examine how individuals can initiate change in families, neighborhoods, and communities.
  • Objective 3.01: Analyze changes, which have occurred in communities past and present.
  • Objective 3.02: Describe how individuals, events, and ideas change over time.
  • Objective 3.03: Compare and contrast the family structure and the roles of its members over time.

Grade 5

• Goal 3: The learner will examine the roles various ethnic groups have played in the development of the United States and its neighboring countries.
  • Objective 3.02: Examine how changes in the movement of people, goods, and ideas have affected ways of living in the United States.
  • Objective 3.04: Hypothesize how the differences and similarities among people have produced diverse American cultures.
• Goal 4: The learner will trace key developments in United States history and describe their impact on the land and people of the nation and its neighboring countries.
  • Objective 4.02: Explain when, where, why, and how groups of people settled in different regions of the United States.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.05: Draw conclusions, make generalizations, and gather support by referencing the text.
  • Objective 2.06: Summarize main idea(s) from written or spoken texts using succinct language.
  • Objective 2.08: Listen actively by:
    • facing the speaker.
    • making eye contact.
    • asking questions to clarify the message.
    • asking questions to gain additional information and ideas.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • considering the differences among genres.
    • relating plot, setting, and characters to own experiences and ideas.
    • considering main character's point of view.
    • participating in creative interpretations.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters and events.
    • reflecting on learning, gaining new insights, and identifying areas for further study.
  • Objective 3.02: Identify and discuss similarities and differences in events, characters, concepts and ideas within and across selections and support them by referencing the text.
  • Objective 3.03: Use text and own experiences to verify facts, concepts, and ideas.
  • Objective 3.05: Compare and contrast printed and visual information (e.g., graphs, charts, maps).
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
    • discuss.
    • sustain conversation on a topic.
    • share information and ideas.
    • recount or narrate.
    • answer open-ended questions.
    • report information on a topic.
    • explain own learning.
  • Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
  • Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
  • Objective 4.05: Identify (with assistance) the purpose, the audience, and the appropriate form for the oral or written task.
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).
  • Objective 4.10: Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.

Grade 4

• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies to comprehend text and to clarify meaning of vocabulary (e.g., reread the text, consult other sources, ask for help, paraphrase, question).
  • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
    • setting a purpose using prior knowledge and text information.
    • making predictions.
    • formulating questions.
    • locating relevant information.
    • making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
  • Objective 2.05: Make inferences, draw conclusions, make generalizations, and support by referencing the text.
  • Objective 2.06: Summarize major points from fiction and nonfiction text(s) to clarify and retain information and ideas.
  • Objective 2.07: Determine usefulness of information and ideas consistent with purpose.
  • Objective 2.09: Listen actively by:
    • asking questions.
    • paraphrasing what was said.
    • interpreting speaker's verbal and non-verbal messages.
    • interpreting speaker's purposes and/or intent.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • analyzing the impact of authors' word choice and context.
    • examining the reasons for characters' actions.
    • identifying and examining characters' motives.
    • considering a situation or problem from different characters' points of view.
    • analyzing differences among genres.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters, events and themes.
  • Objective 3.05: Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
    • discuss.
    • interview.
    • solve problems.
    • make decisions.
  • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
  • Objective 4.05: Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas (e.g., brainstorming, mapping, webbing, reading, discussion).
  • Objective 4.07: Compose fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected and assigned topics and forms (e.g., personal and imaginative narratives, research reports, diaries, journals, logs, rules, instructions).
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal and imaginative narrative, research reports, learning logs, letters of request, letters of complaint).
  • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to gather, organize, and present information.

Grade 5

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • word reference materials.
    • content area study.
    • writing process elements.
    • writing as a tool.
    • debate.
    • discussions.
    • seminars.
    • examining the author's craft.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.01: Use metacognitive strategies independently and flexibly to monitor comprehension and extend vocabulary (e.g., skim, scan, question).
  • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
    • making predictions.
    • formulating questions.
    • supporting answers from textual information, previous experience, and/or other sources.
    • drawing on personal, literary, and cultural understandings.
    • seeking additional information.
    • making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
  • Objective 2.07: Evaluate the usefulness and quality of information and ideas based on purpose, experiences, text(s), and graphics.
• Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
  • Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
    • analyzing word choice and content.
    • examining reasons for a character's actions, taking into account the situation and basic motivation of the character.
    • creating and presenting a product that effectively demonstrates a personal response to a selection or experience.
    • examining alternative perspectives.
    • evaluating the differences among genres.
    • examining relationships among characters.
    • making and evaluating inferences and conclusions about characters, events and themes.
  • Objective 3.02: Make connections between texts by recognizing similarities and differences based on a common lesson, theme, or message.
  • Objective 3.04: Make informed judgments about television, radio, video/film productions, and other electronic mediums and/or print formats.
  • Objective 3.05: Integrate main idea and supporting details from multiple sources to expand understanding of texts.
  • Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • formulate hypotheses.
    • evaluate information and ideas.
    • present and support arguments.
    • influence the thinking of others.
  • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
  • Objective 4.05: Use a variety of preliminary strategies to plan and organize the writing and speaking task considering purpose, audience, and timeline.
  • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected topic and format (e.g., poetry, research reports, news articles, letters to the editor, business letters).
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., clarification, essay, feature story, business letter).
  • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to enhance and/or publish a product.