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GEOLOGY

As the pioneers traveled the Oregon trail they came across various landmarks which they used to identify their position along the way. Examples would be Chimney Rock (Nebraska) and Independence Rock (Wyoming). The Cayuse Indians also had a landmark rock that came from an Indian Legend. It is located at Wallula Junction and is known as the Ki-Use Girls.

Integrate geology into your curriculum by doing some of the following activities:

1. Review the three basic types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Have examples of each rock type for students to handle and examine. Discuss the differences of these three rock types and identify the rocks which the pioneers saw or used. Various uses of different rocks could be discussed and researched. Groups can review and research types of rocks and write mini-reports.
   
   
2. Have the kids simulate Independence Rock by writing their names on a piece of butcher paper and including their own personal messages. Many of the rocks written on by pioneers are protected as part of state and federal parks. Please remind students that writing on rocks is not an acceptable practice today and is considered graffiti and vandalism. Discuss why we don't carve our names on rocks and trees today.
   
   
3. Talk about hardness levels of different rocks. (Example-Limestone is a very "soft" rock, while granites and basalt are "harder" rocks.)
   
   
4. Have students bring in their own rock samples and match these with class samples. Students can also do this matching activity blindfolded and use only their sense of feel (hands only) to match up rocks by examining rock surfaces.
   
   
5. Have the students write about various uses of rocks (in the past and present). How did the pioneers and Indians use rocks? How do we use rocks today? Have uses for rocks changed through time? What materials do we use today instead of rocks? Why has the use of rocks increased or decreased over time?
   
   
6. Retell the Indian story of the Ki-Use Girls and have the students develop and write their own version of this legend.
   
   
7. Study the continental divide and how the rivers will flow downward and towards the ocean. Have students locate the Oregon trail on a map as well as the major rivers. In which direction do the rivers flow? Why?

Why did Marcus Whitman settle at Waiilatpu?

Why did he not establish the Mission closer to the Columbia River where access to supplies would be easier?

Why did he not settle closer to the Blue Mountains where lumber was more abundant?

Why did Marcus Whitman consider farming important in order for his mission to survive?

Why did he consider farming important to the Cayuse Indians?

Possible Activities:

1. Review different types of soil such as clay, sand, and rock.
   
   
2. Review difference in topsoil, subsoil and bedrock. (It helps to have samples of each soil type as well as a magnifying glass.)
   
   
3. During the spring, identify and research the crops that Whitman grew at the mission site. (These should be corn, wheat, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, melons and other basic vegetables.) In groups, have the students plant these vegetables in a different soil type. Have students predict what will grow the best and in what type of soil. Verify whether predictions were accurate or not--discuss reasons for accurate or inaccurate predictions.
   
   
4. If possible, make adobe bricks using materials in the following combinations.
   
   • clay soil and straw
   • sandy soil and straw
   • sandy soil only
   • clay soil only
   
   

   Predict which "adobe brick" will hold up best to weather and construct.

   See "Making Adobe Bricks" for details on making a mold and making adobe bricks.
   
   

5. Whitman used a mold which measured 20" x 10" x 5". Using a smaller mold (for example 4" x 2" x 1") it would be feasible to construct semi-scaled models of the mission buildings.

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Last modified on: January 31, 2004