Letter From the Trail Ad Lib Activity

Public Domain Image

We learn a lot about the Santa Fe Trail by reading historical letters. Trail travelers would often write letters to their families and friends to tell them what it was like to travel the trail.

We found an unfinished letter by a Santa Fe Trail traveler and we need your help to finish it!

There are three options to complete this activity:

• Open a copy of the activity in a PDF reader to fill it out digitally!

Digital Fillable Form Ad Lib Activity - Letter from the Trail

• Print a copy of the activity and fill it out physically!

Printable Ad Lib Activity - Letter from the Trail

• Complete Steps 1 & 2 below by writing your answers on paper!

Step 1 - Write a word for each description

Family members name:

Number:

Temperature description:

Food:

Drink:

Animal:

Adjective:

Emotion:

Number:

Food:

Food:

Verb ending in -ing:

Object:

Adjective:

Plural object:

Plural object:

Your name:

Step 2 - Fill in the Letter

Dear (family member’s name) __________________,

We have been travelling the Santa Fe Trail for (number) __________________ days.

Today we woke at sunrise to begin our journey. It was (temperature) _________________. We started by eating (food) __________________ with a cup of (drink) __________________. It was my favorite breakfast!

We passed through a grassy prairie today. I saw a(n) (animal) __________________ for the first time! It was so (adjective) __________________ ! Everyone felt (emotion) __________________ when they saw it! Some people even chased after it.

After walking for (number) __________________ hours, we stopped for lunch. We had some beans and a cup of coffee. As a treat, the cook gave us some (food) __________________ and (food) __________________ for dessert. What a tasty combination!

By evening, we were all tired from (verb ending in -ing) __________________ all day. Some people slept in the wagon, but there wasn’t enough room for everyone. I decided to sleep on my (object) __________________ outside. I’m writing this letter now while looking up at the (adjective) __________________ stars.

I can’t wait to get to Santa Fe! I brought rare (plural object) __________________ and (plural object) __________________ to sell. I know I will make a fortune!

Love,(your name) __________________

Learn More

Explore history on the Trail

### Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Learn more about historic trails!

### National Trails

Where this belongs

• Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Where this page came from

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