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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners use documents from California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900, in American Memory to create a script depicting the motivations, expectations, fears, and realizations of immigrants who settled California between...
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Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Learning Page: Primary Source Set Dust Bowl Migration

For Students 9th - 10th
Set of primary documents, photos, audio and sheet music having to do with the movement of homeless families during the Great Depression. Teaching guide included.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Journeys West

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which young scholars explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
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Handout
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Vmcsf: San Francisco Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a list of links to information related to earthquake damage and effects in the California area.
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Handout
CRW Flags

Flags of the World: Clickable Map of the United States

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Includes both printable images and fascinating trivia behind the flag of each state. It includes alternate flags used in the past.
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Primary
History Tools

History Tools: John O'sullivan Coins the Phrase Manifest Destiny 1845 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
What was "manifest destiny"? In this excerpt, learn the role race played in American expansionism and the proposed addition of Texas to the United States.
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Handout
Other

American Journeys: Relation of the Voyage of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief relating of the life of Juan Rodriguez and the Cabrillo expedition, 1542-1543, up the coast of California.
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Website
Other

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco: De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Resource is the homepage for the de Young Museum, one of the two Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Includes information about the museum, its collections, and exhibitions, and resources for educators wanting to take their students to...
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Handout
Other

Seasonal Chef: Preserving Fruits and Vegetables

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructions for preserving fruits and vegetables.
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Handout
CNN

Cnn: The Reagan Years: A Second Act in Politics

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a cnn.com in-depth special "The Reagan years", this site follows Reagan's evolution from Hollywood movie star to governor of California.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: The Compromise of 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
The Compromise of 1850 acted as a band-aid over the growing wound of sectional divide.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Gipper

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical history of President Ronald Reagan.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Impact of the Mexican Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Seee how Mexico's independence from Spain affected not only the Mexicans who lived in California, but also the native population, and the white Americans.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Spanish America

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Spanish influence in the northern part of its empire in America. See what American cowboys borrowed from the vaqueros, and how Spanish architecture came to spread across the Southwest.
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Handout
Social Security Administration

Social Security Online: Upton Sinclair

For Students 9th - 10th
The Social Security Administration profiles the political career of author Upton Sinclair and his unsuccessful run as a progressive candidate for governor of California in 1934. He proposed a plan for California similar to what became...
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Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: California on the Eve Californios

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information about the Spanish influence in California before the Gold Rush.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Pacific Ring of Fire

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers information on the location of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Map included.
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Website
Other

California Museum: Discover: Fun With Crafts: State Symbols of California

For Students 1st - 8th
Instructions and templates for creating the state symbols of California out of paper and other easy-to-find materials.
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Primary
Other

Ailello Studios: The Land of Glittering Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn some interesting facts about the California Gold Rush through images, personal stories and other writings.
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Interactive
Other

California State Capitol Museum: Kids Zone: California State Word Searches

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore California while solving these fun word searches on a variety of subjects.
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Activity
Other

California State Capitol Museum: Kids Zone: Coloring Pages: State Fish [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Have some fun being creative while coloring in the golden trout fish which is native only to California.
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Activity
Other

California State Capitol Museum: Kids Zone: Coloring Pages: State Reptile [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Printable page to color and get useful information on the desert tortoise, which is the official State Reptile of California.
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Activity
Other

Ca State Capitol Museum: Kids Zone: Coloring Pages: State Marine Mammal [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Printable page for coloring and to find useful information on the California gray whale which was named the official State Marine Mammal in 1975.
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Activity
Other

California State Capitol Museum: Kids Zone: Coloring Pages: State Seal [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Printable page for coloring and to learn useful information about the official California State Seal.