I’ve got it available to download using the access button at the bottom of this post. It prints as a 20×30 photo (I recommend lustre) that you can print at Costco for $9.99.
I figure this is something I could be able to use every year so worth the expense in my opinion. Here’s the finished product:
If you’d like to print this at home instead, I’ve tiled the above image that’s also available to download using the below. It prints on 8 sheets of paper. I’d recommend printing on card stock and laminating if you want to use it again.
- Challenges in Missouri HERE
- Exploring Nauvoo HERE
- The Nauvoo Temple & Carthage Jail HERE
- Waiting in Winter Quarters HERE
- Martin’s Cove HERE
- This is the Place HERE
You can download my brief summary of all these links (available using the button below) that I’ll be reading in primary at each stop. (If you’ll notice there are only 5 stops on the map, but there are 6 links so I omitted the Exploring Nauvoo, or #2 option).
- Pioneer Cake Walk (find details HERE) – to move it along, just give everyone a piece of hard candy after the first song is over :).
- Read a brief section from the Exploring Nauvoo link above or sing and play a pioneer song using chimes or handbells (find details HERE).
- Show some pioneer games (see more ideas HERE): I have a few wooden buttons on strings we got when we stopped at Cove Fort a while ago:
- Show pioneer clothing – dress a child or two (you can make some homemade ones using brown paper bags like I’ve done HERE – scroll down through the post to find it)
- Have children dip their feet in an icy bucket of water (details HERE)
- Make homemade butter and eat it on a cracker (details HERE) or pass out some hard candy! If you go with the butter route, make sure you start it at the beginning of singing time – maybe have the adults all shake. I haven’t quite worked this out yet!
I suppose there is a third option and that is to omit all the (1-5) milestones – I’d recommend this if you are short on time!
Random thought…but I think this 2nd option could actually be really fun as a life size map – use for a fun Pioneer activity day out in the parking lot! Draw out the map in chalk and strategically place each of the 5 spots on the map with a station with the various activities and stories I have listed above. Maybe incorporate a song at each station and answers move the kids along the path.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Category Title > Pioneer Day > On the Trail.
7 thoughts on “Pioneer On the Trail Singing Time”
Fun fact I learned from sister missionaries at the Winter Quarters trail center is that it was a tradition in some companies for everyone to start singing along if someone started sing "Come, Come, Ye Saints."
Thank you for the time and effort you put into sharing your idea!
*ideas
We made butter yesterday and it was a serious hit! Thanks for the idea. (We are in California, so I waited an extra week, since the kids barely knew when Pioneer day was anyway, haha.)
In 2013 I made a poster boardgame of this map, similar to your idea and cut out the 2 handcarts from the magazine to use as game pieces,and we had teams (you could all be on one team representing one handcart as well, to work together or add a little competition). I made the states colorful pieces to lay over and as they moved along a child would remove that "puzzle piece" with pioneer song titles on the back of each piece. Each piece lifted revealed the state and more of the trail beneath (way time consuming -I like your idea to print board much better! But you could still have pieces covering the trail.) As the kids sung well they'd progress and each stop the handcarts made we'd have a child read a pioneer story or experience for that location! They loved it and it went really well! We'd play the song thru then sing, and had words printed on pictures they could hold up as classes, so they got involved and enjoyed it! I'm in charge again this year and misplaced or gave my old one away when I was released so I'm totally printing at Costco tomorrow and using Sunday! Thanks, you're a lifesaver!
Hello Camille,
This is Shawna Gottfredson. How are you? I am serving a missionat the Mormon Trail Center in Omaha Nebraska. I found your amazing map on your website and wonder if you can do a file that would work for us to print off here and use as a possible place mat for dinners ect.? All the missionaries here just love it.
Thank you for your time and I hope all is well.
Sister Gottfredson
Hi Shawna!
You bet! I emailed it to you. So great to hear from you!! Enjoy your mission, that sounds like so much fun!
~Camille