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Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine how the early explorers from Spain and England competed in their search for riches and new lands. They read and discuss text from their book, participate in a debate, and create a poster.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/ Chapter 5, Lesson 2: Mexico Defeated (pp. 116-120)

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study how the United States declared war on Mexico and succeeded in gaining control of California. Several activities are included in the lesson. The lesson outline is included as a link.
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Lesson Plan
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 8, Lesson 1: Farming Takes Hold (pp. 184-187)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss that the movement toward farming during the 1850's to the 1870's meant for California. The economy of California is studied in relationship to the effects of farming. There are several focus questions to help...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 13, Lesson 1 The Past Shapes the Future (pp. 292-295)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders reflect upon the events of the past in order to make cognitive connections to present or future history. Students use Blooms Taxonomy to attain higher levels of thinking.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling to the Gold Rush

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the experiences the people who traveled to California during the Gold Rush by land and sea. They create a map showing the various routes that individuals took to get to California. Students explain the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Missions to Ranchos

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the conversion of the California missions into ranchos. They develop a pros and cons chart, write a first person narrative describing the changing life from the missions to the ranchos, and create a poster of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gam Saan Adventure- Are You Willing to Risk it?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its development since the 1850's.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Adventure Begins: "Boys I Believe I Have Found a Gold Mine!"

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students view and discuss historical documents regarding Native Americans and Californians prior to the gold rush in the 1940's. They complete a variety of activities designed to show what they have learned from these sources and class...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting There: "Do You Want To Go To California?"

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students, in groups, participate in a variety of activities regarding the rise of Anglo-American immigration in the 1840s and its impact upon California. They discuss immigration from the West and the East as it influenced the culture of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 Gold Rush.
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Lesson Plan
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the World Rushed In: "Who Are These People? And How Came They Here?"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the struggles Californians dealt with regarding diversity brought about by the Gold Rush. They participate in a variety of creative, original activities and projects designed to reinforce the idea of historical diversity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legacies of El Dorado

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the development of urban California as it was driven by the Gold Rush boom. They study historical documents and participate in a variety of hands-on activities designed to reinforce the concept of the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
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California Here We Come!

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students, in groups, explore the impac the Gold Rush immigration had on the culture of California. They write a newspaper article from the 1850s identifying immigrant groups to California during the Gold Rush era.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Narrative History - Hypertext Dialogues

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students create scripts about California settlers. The document reflects the settlers' fears, expectations, and realizations.
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Lesson Plan
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Cariboo Gold Rush Adventure

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students play the online game Cariboo Gold Rush, in which students make decisions like the original gold miners did.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: Seeking Land or Gold

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students write a persuasive letter home defending their decision either to settle in Utah and farm the land, or to go on to California to seek gold. They analyze a problem, make a decision, and write a letter defending their choice.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applying For The Mission

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars participate in a live simulation of traveling through space as part of a large science unit. They are encouraged to go into the community and ask for participation from parents and relatives. Students reflect upon their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decision-Making Scenerios

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders review what they have gathered on the Gold Rush and how the Native Americans lived in the Plains. Using a worksheet, they choose one scenerio they would have liked to be a part of and write their opionions about it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Yukon Gold Rush

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the background information for the book, Call of the Wild. They use electronic and video resources to establish the background. Students discuss the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and the Yukon Gold Rush.
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Lesson Plan
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Go West Young Man#148

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars determine the difference between immigration and emigration. They read and listen to books about emigration westward during the Gold Rush years. They examine life in Gold Rush towns while determining why gold is so...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conflicts Between Cultures

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the issue of discrimination against new immigrants to California. They develop a class word web, read and discuss text, create a poster, and write a picture poem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 1: California in Wartime (pp. 250-253)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the crisis of Japanese Americans during World War II. The benefits of the California economy are explored. The instructional activity has a discussion portion that is culturally relevant for many types of students.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 2: New Uses of Science and Technology (pp. 255-259)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders reflect upon the development of technology and how it has effected the lives of Californians. Drawings and writings are used as media for self-expression. The areas of focus are aviation, sea exploration, and farming.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 10, Lesson 1: Growth of Industry (pp. 226-230)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the four big events that helped California's southern coast grow in the early 1900's. The events of the digging of San Pedro Harbor and the Panama Canal are included. The effects upon California is looked upon from...