Fifth graders at Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary participated in an interactive Oregon Trail game to promote teamwork, movement, and historical understanding. 

“We strive to incorporate multi-sensory opportunities whenever possible,” said Lindsay Searles, a co-fifth grade teacher. “This felt like the perfect opportunity.” 

Students worked together in randomized wagon teams, represented by scooters strung together, emphasizing the challenges of traveling as a group. 

Along the journey, they encountered fate cards that presented real pioneer obstacles, requiring them to make critical decisions—such as paying with food tokens or strategizing to overcome hardships. 

This engaging activity reinforced the struggles of westward expansion and encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability in a fun and active way.

“This was an interactive way to prepare for their unit quiz later in the week,” Searles said. “Our class discussed what they learned and how their choices impacted their journey.”

For most teachers, this lesson was “back to the future,” as the Oregon Trail is now a classic educational tool dating back decades to when computers first landed in schools.

“Everyone in the building who had been teaching for any length of time had fond recollections of the interactive video game, and it was instantly a hit with our young kinesthetic learners,” said Eric Albert, the other co-fifth-grade teacher. “We had fun creating circumstances that required practical decision-making skills to surmount.”