TRAIL DRIVE SIMULATION

Each group of 2-3 students will compile and present a journal of experiences along the trail. Follow the requirements and guidelines below for a complete and accurate accounting of the events of the drive.

Choose one of the cattle trails and write a paragraph explanation of your selection. (Example: shortest, safest, offers the best market potential etc.). Trails and destination cattle towns are listed below:

Trail Options: (map p. 415) Destination Total Miles

Great Western TrailDodge City 610

Ogallala 845

Chisholm Trail Ellsworth 810

Abilene 825

Goodnight-Loving Trail Pueblo 675

Denver 850

Cheyenne1025

Sedalia (Shawnee) Trail Baxter Springs 815

Sedalia 990

Group Responsibilities:

Table of Contents – Page one of the journal will include a list of the journal entries written by the group members. List entries by the order they appear in the journal (no page numbers necessary). Include title/topic and author name.

Trail Brand – Design a brand and choose someone in the group to draw it. (Keep it simple; remember this design is branded onto the rump of each cow!) Include a written explanation of what the brand means/represents.

Trail Map – Label the 4 major trail options and clearly mark the trail and destination city that your group chose. Also label rivers and mark the locations on the map where the journal entry events and problems occurred (Choose a symbol to represent the problems.) Color the map appropriately, following standard map instructions.

Start of Drive – This entry introduces the trail drive your group will take. Record the trail and destination that your group chose and explain why you chose it. In this entry you should also discuss the time of year that you will be leaving and explain why that time is a good time to leave for a cattle drive (There is a right answer for this, so you will need to do research to answer correctly). You could also record some fictional experiences of what it was like when all the cowboys met and got the supplies together to start the cattle drive.

Journal Entries – Record four days of the drive, or one day for each member of the group. Each group member is responsible for one day in addition to the other required journal entries (groups with 3 people will have 3 journal entries). Tell about the start of the drive, two major problems encountered (these will be randomly drawn), several average or eventful days, encounters with interesting people or places, and how your drive ends.

Native American Confrontation – Record in one entry an encounter with one of the Native American tribes that roamed the area through which you are traveling. This could be peaceful or violent. Feel free to mention one of the specific Native American chiefs we talked about, but just be sure to describe details of the encounter.

Log of Expenses (Expense Account) –

Determine the length of time it will take to complete the journey (healthy cows go about 15 miles a day).

List the supplies you estimate will be needed.

Figure the cost at the beginning of the drive.

Keep a record of cattle gained or lost and any extra supplies purchased along the trail.

Record sale price for the herd, subtract expenses, and figure profit for the drive.

(Excel spreadsheet may be used to display the record of expenses.)

End of the drive – Profits and expenses will be determined at the end of the drive (last day of the project). Market conditions at the various destinations will be taken into account when determining price per head. The goal is to sell the herd for an estimated $25 a head.

DESIGN A CREATIVE, COLORFUL COVER FOR THE JOURNAL/SCRAPBOOK

PROJECT SCHEDULE:

First Day:

  1. Research the positions of the cattle drive and fill out the Cattle Drive Positions handout, using the following website:

Once every person is finished in group, you may proceed to step 2. Every person must turn this in by end of class on the first day. ( While you are waiting, you can read about the cattle trails below and start to brainstorm for #2, #3).

  1. Read the Secret Language of Cattle Branding and Design brand and name of ranch.
  2. Choose trail. Use the following websites to research the trails:

Designate the person who will write the “Start of Drive” journal entry. This person should take notes about the trail and why your group chose the particular trail they did. Include your group reasoning in your journal entry.

Second Day: (Pick up “Summary Log” for days 1-2, fill it as you go today, due at start of class on day 3)

  1. Select supplies to be taken and list cost in expense log.
  2. Decide how many cows to take, and how many cowboys and horses will be needed; each cowboy should have at least four horses.
  3. Estimate how long the drive will take.
  4. Look at rubric for start of trail entry and brainstorm ideas.

Third Day:

  1. Draw map of the trail you are going to use. As you travel northward, add towns, rivers, and any special points of interest that you cross.
  2. Begin Cattle-Trail Math Activity
  3. Begin writing the individual journal entries (remember these are fictional characters, so you can make up your name – as long as your real name is somewhere on the page)

Remember to reference the following website to understand the jobs of individual cowboys:

Fourth Day:

  1. Draw for a problem.
  2. Discuss as a group and determine a solution.
  3. Together write an entry in your journal describing the circumstances, problem, and solution. BE CREATIVE! Use facts from the text, or other sources about trail drives. Make your story something that COULD HAVE HAPPENED. (The assigned group member will act as the scribe and type this up later)
  4. Work on character sketches (meeting with Indian Chief, Historical Cattle Drive participant, or another unusual character along the way)
  5. Complete buffalo entry.
  6. Compile journal with all entries needed to be turned in at beginning of next class period.

Feel free to use the internet to research any of the above information.

Information and Supply List:

Drovers: (suggested - 1 cowboy for every 250 cows)

Wages:cowboy $50/month

horse wrangler$50/month

trail boss$100/month

cook $90/month

# of horses:

$15/horse (a drive needed at least 80 horses, or 4 to 5 per man)

Cattle Herd:

Take no more than 3,000 head. There is no initial cost. Estimated sale price would be $25 a head minimum at the cow town destination.

Chuck wagon: $75

Team of mules: $50

Cooking Utensils (pots, pans, plates, forks) $18.80

SUPPLY LIST FOR 4 WEEKS:

(The list below represents necessary supplies for only 4 weeks. What is the estimated length of time your drive will take? Take enough, but not too much.)

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300 lbs flour $ 9.75

50 lbs sugar 3.00

20 lbs dried fruit 2.00

60 lbs coffee 15.00

100 lbs pinto beans 4.50

6 lbs salt .60

40 lbs lard 3.90

6 lbs baking powder 3.00

2 lbs baking soda .20

1 dozen boxes matches .25

5 gal molasses 3.00

7 lbs onions 7.00

225 lbs potatoes 2.25

200 lbs bacon 28.00

269 lbs oats (for team ) 3.70

12 bars soap .50

2 lbs pepper .50

1 coffee mill 1.00

1 monkey wrench .75

6 boxes axle grease .50

3 lanterns 1.00 ea

1 bunch lamp wicks .10

5 gal coal oil 1.15

45 boxes horseshoes .72 ea box

5 bags horseshoe nail .05 ea

3 horseshoe rasps .85 ea

3 shoeing hammers .75 ea

1 shoeing pincher 1.00

8 lbs hobble rope 1.20

4 curry combs 1.00

1 ax and handle 1.25

MEDICINE:

2 qt vinegar .30 ea

tobacco (plugs) 1.00 box

4 qt whiskey 3.20

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