USH.16

A New Beginning

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

4.6 Stars

TEACHERS (2)

4.5

STUDENTS (13)

4.8

LENGTH

25 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

iPad Support

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

A New Beginning is an immersive adventure that plunges players into the heart of the conquest of the American West in the 19th century. Through an interactive adventure rich in discovery, the player takes turns embodying different iconic characters of this era: a gold prospector in the California mountains, a farm wife facing the harsh conditions of the Great Plains, a trapper exploring the vast, uncharted territories, and many more. Each level offers varied game mechanics that influence the environment and the character's survival. The game focuses on iconic environments and moments from the conquest of the West. The thoughts of our characters throughout their adventures will further enhance the immersion while arousing the player's curiosity about one of the founding periods of American history. Let's Conquer the West!

Vocabulary Words

trade

rancher

longhorn

missionary

American Indians/Natives

settlers

miners

Oregon Trail

Gold Rush

Land Race

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about Settlements in the West. Suitable for Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Discuss the role of cultural identity, religion, and survival strategies among settlers adapting to frontier life.

Evaluate how federal policies and acts (e.g., Homestead Act, Land Acts) influenced land ownership and migration patterns.

Interpret how personal accounts and memoirs reveal the daily hardships and motivations of westward migrants.

Describe how the environment shaped the daily lives and economies of settlers in different regions of the West.

Examine how cattle drives and railroads shaped the development of cow towns and the cattle industry.

Evaluate the experiences and contributions of Chinese immigrants in western labor and community-building.

Compare the experiences of different cultural groups in the West and how they interacted with each other.

Describe the experiences of African American settlers in the West, including their pursuit of freedom, land, and opportunity.

Analyze how the growth of railroads and mining industries transformed western towns, economies, and migration patterns.

Analyze the role of women and children in building communities and surviving hardships in the West.

Describe the challenges and opportunities faced by homesteaders, ranchers, and farmers in the western frontier.

Explain the causes and effects of the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Evaluate the economic effects of mining booms and busts on the development of western towns and territories.

Analyze the contributions of Mormons, missionaries, and pioneers to westward migration and settlement.

Identify the key groups who moved west during the 1800s and describe their motivations and experiences.

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

What were some of the challenges faced during the Oregon Trail? Why was the Land Race so enticing?

After the Game

How were missionaries interacting with American Indians? How weather was a challenge?

Ratings & Reviews

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Teacher Ratings

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Game Details

Difficulty

Content Integration

Lexile Level

N/A

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