What was life like on the Oregon Trail for kids?
What was life like on the Oregon Trail for kids? Chores for children on the trail often included fetching water, cooking, washing dishes, and helping to look after the younger children. There was little firewood available on the Plains. So, children were often assigned to collect the “buffalo chips” that were used for fuel to build fires for warmth and cooking.
What were 3 difficulties people faced on the Oregon Trail?
Stream and river crossings, steep descents and ascents, violent storms, and the persistent threat of disease among large groups of travelers were the most common challenges. Disease was the greatest threat on the trail, especially cholera, which struck wagon trains in years of heavy travel.
How did people go to the bathroom on wagon trains?
Travelers used grass or leaves or just plain dirt. Bark was also a paper substitute. It wasn't pretty, but no worse than many other realities pioneers faced on the emigrant trail.
What were the hardships on the Oregon Trail for kids?
Numerous accidents were caused by negligence, exhaustion, guns, and animals throughout the trail's existence. Wagon accidents were the most common, with children and adults sometimes falling off or under wagons and being crushed under the wheels. “A little boy fell over the front end of the wagon during our journey.
What did people on the Oregon Trail do for fun?
Traveling on the Oregon Trail would get boring after some time. Settlers walked all day and ate the same food for months. To keep themselves entertained they brought instruments and told stories. Children would play games with their friends.
What was the toughest part of the Oregon Trail?
Crossing rivers were probably the most dangerous thing pioneers did. Swollen rivers could tip over and drown both people and oxen. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies. Animals could panic when wading through deep, swift water, causing wagons to overturn.