French voyageurs trapped and hunted for wild animals in the Illinois Territory
Wild Illinois History for kids

A silver buck - silver trading pieces like this were used by voyageurs and traders. Each piece represented one beaver pelt in the early Illinois Territory.Journey back to a time of exploration with one of the first French trappers to reach the Illinois Territory. Play a game and learn how to make your own animal hide possibles bag.

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Make a Possibles Bag!

Learn to make a possibles bag out of deer or other animal hide. Play the game to get directions and a pattern to make your own.When voyageurs and early Illinois settlers ventured into the wild, they probably carried a small bag designed to hold "everything possible."  The bag would hold flint and steel for starting a fire or lead balls for a musket.

Make your own possibles bag >>

Teachers' Page

State of Illinois outline - resources for teachers and educators, correlated to Illinois Learning StandardsUse the interactive activities on this site to explore Illinois history with late elementary students. You'll find lesson plans, activities, photos, posters and correlations to Illinois Learning Standards.

Teacher resources >>

Furbearers of Illinois

Beaver - a common Illinois furbearing mammal in the past and todayLearn about mink, raccoon, fox, coyote and more. Take a quiz about Illinois wildlife.

Illinois' furbearers were valuable to early settlers and they are valuable today.

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Illinois Department of Natural Resources logo

Wild Illinois History is presented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Illinois Teachers!

The activities on this site are correlated to Illinois Learning Standards.  Learn more.