Map Activity/ Supply and Demand

WESTWARD EXPANSION Opportunity Cost Map Activity/ Supply and Demand Teacher Page The following activities were created by Dawn Wise/Barrington

* The learner will predict and list supplies necessary to make a trip from Kansas to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. * The learner will calculate the opportunity cost involved in making this trip. * The learner will analyze a map of the trail along with three possible routes. Students will then choose which route they think is best and provide a written response justifying their choice. * The learner will explain the dynamics of supply and demand. Created by Dawn Wise/Barrington TEACHER PAGE

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS Instruct the students to use their journals to predict and list supplies needed. Remind students that opportunity cost is simply the total dollar amount that an opportunity, project,or in this case, a trip ,will cost.

You and your family are traveling west from Nebraska to Fort Bridger and then on to Oregon. Make a list of supplies you will need for the trip.

Here are some examples of supplies you may have listed along with their imaginary prices. ITEMS ITEMS Total $ Total $ 3 pots and 3 pans $15.00 $15.00 $20.00 $ 8.00 $ 3.00 $25.00 2 lbs. flour 2 lbs. cornmeal bullets 3 wagon wheels 20 jugs of water lamp oil $ 3.00 $ 3.00 $20.00 $21.00 $ 4.00 $ 3.00 Figure out the opportunity cost for your trip to Oregon. 5 blankets 4 hunting rifles 4 lanterns 1 ax clothing (Click to hide)

Here are some examples of supplies you may have listed along with their imaginary prices. ITEMS ITEMS Total $ Total $ 3 pots and 3 pans $15.00 $15.00 $20.00 $ 8.00 $ 3.00 $25.00 2 lbs. flour 2 lbs. cornmeal bullets 3 wagon wheels 20 jugs of water lamp oil $ 3.00 $ 3.00 $20.00 $21.00 $ 4.00 $ 3.00 5 blankets 4 hunting rifles 4 lanterns 1 ax clothing

ITEMS ITEMS Total $ Total $ 3 pots and 3 pans $15.00 $15.00 $20.00 $ 8.00 $ 3.00 $25.00 2 lbs. flour 2 lbs. cornmeal bullets 3 wagon wheels 20 jugs of water lamp oil $ 3.00 $ 3.00 $20.00 $21.00 $ 4.00 $ 3.00 Opportunity Cost = 5 blankets 4 hunting rifles 4 lanterns 1 ax clothing $137.00

The following map shows three possible trails you could take to reach Fort Bridger. Choose the trail you think is the best. Give reasons why you chose that trail over the other two options.

WYOMING Bighorn Mts. Idaho You are here Rocky Mts. Snake River Platte River Utah Green River Laramie Mts. Colorado KEY = Mountains Trail A Trail B Trail C = Fort Bridger Shoshone Village

I chose Trail C because it had fewer obstacles. Trail A has too many mountains to cross, and there are Indians that may or may not be friendly. On trails A & B you have to cross the Platte River twice.That might be hard for the horses and wagons. That’s why I chose Trail C . Sample Response

WYOMING Bighorn Mts. Idaho Rocky Mts. Snake River Platte River Utah Laramie Mts. Green River Colorado Why might water be more expensive at Fort Bridger than it was back in Nebraska? (Click for answer) Did you guess that water would be in shorter supply at Fort Bridger? When a product is desired by many and is also in short supply, the price will be higher.

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Map Activity/ Supply and Demand