Crossing Nebraska on the Oregon Trail
Long ago, many people traveled west on the Oregon Trail. They rode in covered wagons pulled by oxen. The trip was long and hard. Many families crossed the flat land of Nebraska.
Nebraska had many rivers and grassy plains. Families traveled along the Platte River. The river gave them water to drink. The grass gave food to their horses and oxen.
Travelers saw big rocks along the trail in Nebraska. One famous landmark was Chimney Rock. It looked like a tall tower reaching into the sky. Seeing Chimney Rock meant they were making good progress on their journey.
- wagons:
- Strong wooden vehicles with four wheels used to move goods or people.
- oxen:
- Large, strong farm animals used for pulling heavy loads.
- plains:
- Large areas of flat land with grass and few trees.
- landmark:
- An object or feature that is easy to see and helps people know where they are.
- journey:
- A long trip from one place to another.
More sheets from this passage
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vocabulary worksheet
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Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
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About this report passage for Lower Elementary
“Crossing Nebraska on the Oregon Trail” is a report reading passage about Oregon Trail in Nebraska, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (98 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.