This inquiry leads 4th grade students through an investigation of the Santa Fe Trail and its impact on communities, states, and nations. The compelling question, “For Better or Worse, How Did the Santa Fe Trail Change America?” gives students the opportunity to think deeper about the Santa Fe Trail and its impact on the United States. Students will be able to review the featured sources and complete the formative performance tasks, in order to gather evidence for analyzing and forming different points of view on the Santa Fe Trail. It is important that students be provided with all the featured sources included so that they can form well-supported arguments about the impacts of the trail.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
For Better or Worse, How Did the Santa Fe Trail Change America?
Staging Question
Discuss how new trails, roads, or sidewalks around the city have changed how people move and interact. Specifically focus on trails/roads/sidewalks that may impact students' lives.
1
Supporting QuestionHow was trade in America changed by the Santa Fe Trail?
Formative TasksWrite one paragraph about how trade in America benefited from the Santa Fe Trail. Then, write a 1-2 sentence counterclaim on how it could have negatively impacted trade.
SourcesSource A: Visit Blackjack Park in Baldwin City, Kansas to view the Santa Fe Trail
Source B: Article from National Park Service, “Beyond New Mexico and Missouri: The Diverse People and Places of the Santa Fe Trail”
Source C: Interactive Trail Map
2
Supporting QuestionHow did the Santa Fe Trail impact Indigenous people of the Plains and Southwest?
Formative TasksCreate a T-chart that covers how the route negatively and positively impacted Indigenous people.
SourcesSource A: Excerpt from Santa Fe Trail research, Indians Along the Santa Fe Trail
Source B: Article from Missouri Life Magazine, “Missouri stories from the Santa Fe Trail”
Source C: Chapter 3 from Traveling the Santa Fe Trail by Linda Thompson
3
Supporting QuestionWhat impact did the Santa Fe Trail have on the Mexican-American War?
Formative TasksMake an annotated timeline of major events that occurred leading up to, and during, the Mexican-American War and the Santa Fe Trail. Around 1821-1850.
SourcesSource A: Excerpts from History, Santa Fe Trail
Source B: Article from Legends of America, “The Mexican War and the Santa Fe Trail, 1846-1848”
Source C: Chapter 4 from Traveling the Santa Fe Trail by Linda Thompson
Summative Performance Task
Argument: For better or worse, how did the Santa Fe Trail change America? Construct an argument that provides evidence on how America was changed for better, worse, or both in the 1800’s due to the Santa Fe Trail.
Extension: Students will work in groups of 3-4 to create an annotated map, video, or poster that explains how they think America was changed by the Santa Fe Trail. All projects will need to include pictures of the trail.
Taking Informed Action
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