Question #12 says that the most popular wagon that the pioneers journeyed in was called the Schooner wagon. The Answer Key and the Blashfield book say that it is false - it was the Conestoga wagon that was most popluar. My upper grammar son said that he read somewhere else (but can't remember where) that travelers actually liked the Prairie Schooner better because it was smaller and sleeker. He also was pretty sure that it was lighter in weight. So maybe it was more popular in the "liked better" sense but less popular in "there were more Conestogas than prairire schooners" sense? Did anyone else's children stumble on that question? Or, is there some other reason the question is false?

Thank you for your help,

Beth Ann

Beth Ann,

My Upper Grammars also questioned the two questions you've mentioned. I gave them credit for their answers because the wording on the "pathway" question was unclear (they answered Oregon Trail), and because they could back up their answers with proof from the book they read for the Schooner question.

Not sure if I addressed any of your questions, or not...

Dear Susan,

Thanks for your note about your UG students' responses.

I just checked the Teacher Notes (from World Book) Week 17 and I see that the comments about the Conestoga wagaons were related to settlers crossing "the Applachian Mountains during the late 1700's and the early 1800's." The notes about the Prairie Schooners were about "crossing the Plains" (which makes sense referring to the prairies)in wagon trains in the 1840's. I had just glossed right over it, but my 10 year-old remembered it better than I did. Wow, I love homeschooling. I keep learning so much each year - even when studying at the Upper Grammar level.

Beth Ann