This educational simulation is designed to develop planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and writing skills to teach students about U.S. history and geography as they travel the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails as emigrants. The manual is divided into two parts. Part 1, "Product Instructions," contains: (1) "The Product at a Glance"; and (2) "Getting Started." Part 2, "Classroom Resources," includes: (1) "Classroom Ideas"; (2) "Student Activity Sheets"; (3) "Background Information"; (4) "Notes on the Simulation and Its Underlying Models"; and (5) "Bibliography." Of particular interest to teachers is the Classroom Ideas section containing 16 activities, including: (1) "Mapping the Western Trails"; (2) "The Prairie Schooner"; (3) "Who Should Go West with Me?"; (4)"Planning for the Trip West"; (5) "Supplies To Take with Me"; (6) "Journal of the Westward Journey"; (7) "Diversity of People on the Western Trails"; (8) "Native American Nations along the Western Trails"; (9) "Historical Figures"; (10) "Strategies for Success"; (11) "At the End of the Trail"; (12) "Write about Someone You Met on the Trail"; (13) "Role-play for an Oral or Written Report"; (14) "An 1800s Newspaper"; (15) "The United States in 1850"; and (16) "Follow-up Session." Contains a selected bibliography of 56 items. (EH)