Landscapes, Symbols and the Oregon Trail

5th grade students enjoyed an Art Talk that directly connected to their Social Studies Curriculum.  Mrs. Broshous is leading her students through a study of the Oregon Trail.  In an Art Talk last week, we talked about the paintings, "Oregon Trail" by Albert Bierstadt and "American Progress" by John Gast.

After learning the term, "Manifest destiny", and that many people at the time believed that it was America's destiny to settle the whole of the continent, students read editorials of the time describing the conditions of the trail and advising readers to either stay or go.  By a show of hands, it seems as though our 5th graders are adventurers at heart with most saying they would go!  This was not surprising given the beautiful scene in "Oregon Trail" by Albert Bierstadt.  Students noted the symbol of the sun and the use of light to portray a sense of hope in the new life that pioneers were pursuing.  In "American Progress" we find a sequential wave of transportation technology as well as development by settlers from East to West.  The idea of inevitability is clear!  And, of course, the angel-figure cannot be missed, leading the way with a book (symbol of education/enlightenment) and telegraph cable (symbol of technology and communication) that connects the east and the west.  This Art Talk also covered the terms foreground, mid ground and background when painting a landscape.  

Students could choose from a selection of projects to respond to the art.  Most chose to create their own landscapes depicting the idea of Manifest Destiny using light or symbols to portray optimism and inevitability.  Other ideas were to write their own editorials persuading readers to either go or stay, read real journal entries from pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail and sketch or paint an image using the details, or create a work of art called, "Manifest Destiny" from the point of view of Native Americans.  

These 5th graders were very engaged in this Art Talk and exploring the idea of Manifest Destiny.  Their discussion of the paintings and the history they are learning about was a great opportunity to stretch their thinking and explore some big questions at a higher level of thinking.  What is their destiny?  How do we adapt to change?  How do we prepare for the future?  Does believing in that something is "destiny" help drive us to achieve?  Who benefited from "American Progress" and settling the whole of the continent?  Emerson's 5th graders are wonderful kids with a world of questions to explore!