Book+Review


 * Intro****duction****:**
 * -Title:** //Going West//
 * -Author:**Martin Waddell
 * -Illustrator:** Philippe Dupasquier
 * -Publisher:** Andersen Press Ltd.[[image:0140504737.01._SX140_SY225_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg width="206" height="293" align="right"]]
 * -Copyright Date:** 1983

This book is about the Oregon Trail. This is about a family who is leaving their home and town they are in now, to go to the West and find better land. Kate's dad gave her a journal to write down all of the things that happen on their journey. The town forms a wagon train and and they start their journey. Kate's older sister drank bad water and became really sick. Kate's family had to stay behind and a couple of other families stayed with Kate and her family while the rest of the town continued on. The book goes through and talks about how they have to cross rivers and how Indians were following them and the Indians didn't like Kate and her family because they were taking the Indians land. Some of the Indians ambushed the town and they had a battle. Some Indians and townspeople died. During the winter, Kate's sister was so sick she died. They had to bury her and leave her on their way to the new land. Mr. Sullivan went hunting one day and he never came back. The Indians followed the white people and they started a stampede to get rid of the people. One man set his wagon on fire to scare the animals. During the stampede the Indians started shooting arrows at the people, and one man got shot and died. Finally Kate and their friends made it to where they were going to build their new house and they built it and they started their new life.
 * What is the book about?**

History, Geography and Culture are the related subject areas in this book. This book is about the Oregon Trail when people packed all their belongings and headed out West for a better life. You see how the geography is different along the way to their new life. The culture between the Indians and the white people are different and you can see that by reading the book.
 * What are the related subject areas, content concepts or vocabulary found in the book?**

This book covers NCSS Themes in Culture, People/Places/Environment, Time/Continuity/Change, Individuals/Groups/Institutions.
 * What NCSS Themes and PA Social Studies Standards does the book cover?**


 * 7.2.4.A:** Identify the physical characteristics of **places** and **regions**
 * 7.3.4.A:** Identify the human characteristics of **places** and **regions** using the following criteria: Culture, Settlement, Economic activities, Political Activities.
 * 8.1.4.B:** Distinguish between fact and **opinion** from multiple points of view, and **primary sources** as related to historical events.

This book is appropriate for 3rd and 4th grade. For 2nd grade this book could be used as a read aloud, but they would have a hard time reading the dialect and understanding some things in second grade, so teacher help would be necessary.
 * Which grade level is it appropriate for?**

My method to use this book in the classroom would be to use it as an introduction to the New World and Indians. This is also a great introduction to the Oregon Trail. This book is written from the perspective of Kate and it is written how she talked. It talks about different situations that might not be told about in other stories. This book is an interest to children since the whole book is Kate's thoughts. After reading the book the class could play the game "The Oregon Trail" and they can keep records of what happens during their journey. When they complete the game they can write their own book from their experience playing the game and create their own book.
 * What is your suggested method to use this book in the classroom?**