Introduction

The plight of the Donner Party remains one of the most poignant episodes in the history of westward expansion during the 19th Century. "Donner Online" is a type of Web-based activity in which you learn about a topic by collecting information, images, and insights from the Internet, and then you use them to create a historical newspaper that integrates your perspective. 

You will be working in teams where group members take on different roles and look for certain kinds of information, answers, and insights. When your group puts it all together to create your Historical Newspaper, you will be exposed to what your team members have learned. Of course, you too will be sharing everything you picked up on your study of the Donner tragedy. The last phase of creating your group's product focuses on creating a Newspaper in Microsoft Word, including pictures from that time period, maps to explain where this tragedy occured and some diary extrapolations-these should be synthesized from reading some real diaries found.

The Task

Your task is to:

1. Take on one of the roles described below: Historian, Diarist, Photographer or Advertiser
2. Complete the task related to the role through exploring Internet links.
3. Combine your learning by creating a historical NewsPaper together.
   

The Process

There are three main parts to this project:

Phase 1: Gaining Background knowledge

Phase 2: Collecting Information

Phase 3: Creating Learning Products

Phase 1: Gaining Background Knowledge

Use these links to first gather some general background knowledge about the Donner Party and the Oregon Trail:

• Read
All about the Oregon Trail

Read background on the Donner Party

• Follow the Route of the Donner Party
• Read about the Donner Party from PBS
  
• Read about The Donner Party. This site includes original diary entries, maps and photos.
• Read a History of the Donner Party

Phase 2: Collecting Information

This is where you take on one of the roles and explore the related Internet links. Have fun. Look for interesting things, important things, and surprising things.

1. Choose a role (Each person in your group should select one role).
• The Historian: After examining the Learning Links writes an article dealing with the facts of the trip and how the Donner Party ended up as they did. They might include a timeline of events and any discrepencies noted in story accounts.
  
• The Diarist: After examining a number of diaries, reports of a more personal nature taking the information from the diaries as if they were interviews. I.e...When one of the survivors, Patrick Breene was interviewed he explained, " " .
• The Photographer needs to include graphics to complement the articles. They are also responsible for designing the NewsPaper Banner and format.
• The Advertiser has to Create adds for products that pioneers, especially those making a trip during the Donner Party expedition. These can be written and include simple graphics and prices should relate to the prices of goods at the time.
  
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2. Connect to the links related to your role and examine the resources.
3. Follow your interest and what strikes you as the best information.
4. "Collect" (copy & paste) text or images from the Web. If you find a good resource for someone in another role, share it with them because you will receive a Group Grade.
   

Phase 3: Creating  Your NewsPaper

Now that you have "collected" information, the next phase challenges you to extend or refine your thinking. This will be achieved by putting together your group's Newspaper. Each of you should have responsibility for a part of the newspaper and identify your article or picture with your name.  The Photographer will take your articles, graphics, etc and create the basic NewPaper. You will provide feedback and suggestions for the final product.
Send your graphics and articles to the Photographer through e-mail as an attachment.

Conclusion

What did you learn from this activity? What suggestions do you have for improving it. What things worked well, what things didn't. Can you imagine an event like the Donner Party happening today?

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