A family thinking about heading out on the Oregon Trail needed to purchase supplies, a wagon, oxen, and other items before venturing west. Below is a list of some of the supplies and their costs at that time. Use the chart to answer some questions.
| Item | Cost | Amount needed per person |
| 1 pound flour | 2 cents | 200 pounds |
| 1 pound sugar | 5 cents | 25 pounds |
| 1 pound coffee | 8 cents | 5 pounds |
| 1 pound bacon | 5 cents | 75 pounds |
| 1 pound rice | 5 cents | 10 pounds |
| 1 pound salt | 4 cents | 10 pounds |
| 1 pound beans | 8 cents | 50 pounds |
| 1 pound hardtack | 3 cents | 30 pounds |
| 1 pound lard | 6 cents | 50 pounds |
| 1 wagon with oxen | $390 | 1 set |
| How much did it cost for one person to travel west? | $408.20 |
| How much would supplies cost for a family of six traveling in one wagon? | $499.20 |
| How did the need for supplies affect the price of goods as settlers moved west? | As supply decreased, the price of many supplies increased. |
| How much weight would be added to a wagon for the food supplies for just one person? | 455 pounds |
| What other items might be needed for traveling along the Oregon Trail? | clothes, furniture, shovels and other tools, and personal items such as books and small toys |
| Why do you think it was important to cross the mountains before winter began? | It was impossible to travel across the mountains when heavy snows clogged the trail. |
