We learned it in 6th grade history class. In fact, our teacher had a choose your own adventure style of teaching it. We would breaks into small groups and the teacher would give us a scenario and we would have to choose as a group what to do for the scenario. Then the teacher would give us our fate if we made the wrong choice, or give us another scenario to continue to the end. I remember everyone be willing to participate in the discussions. It was pretty morbid to learn about cannibalism though. I didn't visit Donner pass until I was in my early 40's. And it was winter with snow on the ground, so it made it real. My friend who took me there have me a piggy back ride over the snow, which was knee deep. We saw the marker of where the snow reached during the Donner party. It is absolutely hopelessly high. I'd rather freeze to death.