She showed many examples of O'Keefe's work from her beginnings in New York to her well known Southwestern themes. This prepared students for an exciting visit to the O'Keefe exhibit in San Francisco. Students examined some of the sources of O'Keefe inspiration. This allowed them to appreciate her skill that much more. Each year the class ends its trimester long Western Movement Unit with an simulation of a journey along the Oregon Trail.
Students work hard to prepare to take on the roles of family members in a wagon train heading west.
They do a lot of reading, including Wilder's Little House on the Praire, which they also develop into a play. Students also travel the Oregon Trail using in the Jorde Technology Center, using the software program by the same name to get a taste of the trek.