Rider
1. Visit some of the following sites to learn more about Riders on the Pony Express (keep in mind: Where your express is coming from--a starting point, and where it is going--an ending point (these could even be major towns in your state--they are not limited to a specific county); How many stops are needed (so you will have to know how large your county is or the distance between the major towns you chose); An approximation of how long it would take for you to cary the mail from your starting point to your ending point; What the rider would cary with him (take into consideration hostile indians, wild animals, quick sand, cliffs, or any other obstacles you may face)):
- http://www.xphomestation.com/frm-riders.html
- http://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/history/ponyexpress.cfm this site is about the first part of the journey.
- http://www.ponyexpressnevada.com/pony-express-history.html Talks about the saddle and some of the dangers they faced.
- http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/pxpress.html. Founding of the Pony Express: Why they created it, the first mail they sent through it, how many employees they had, how much it cost to send a letter, etc.
- http://historyday.crf-usa.org/1714/riders.html pictures of some of the riders who rode on the Pony Express.
- http://historyday.crf-usa.org/1714/saddle.html specifically about saddles the Pony Express riders would have used.
- http://www.gilderlehrman.org/historynow/09_2006/pdf/Pony%20Express%20Stations.pdf Sir Richard Burton shares some of his thoughts about different stations (you have to scroll past the very long list of stations).
- http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ponyexpress.htm some of Buffalo Bills stories about the Pony Express.
- http://www.histclo.com/Child/chron/mod/19/child-pony.html Talks about why they used boys for riders, chronology, and also has a little bit of information about a Native American Tribe. Beware of misspellings!
2. Design and make your own "official" Pony Express badge. 
3. Get into your 5-person groups (2 riders, 2 station keepers, and 1 stock manager) and briefly describe what you found out about your role.
4. Prepare to help plan your own Pony Express Route.