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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Students view and discuss historical documents regarding Native Americans and Californians prior to the gold rush in the 1940's. They complete a variety of activities designed to show what they have learned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

American Indians' Loss of Gold

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine and discuss how the American Indians suffered the loss of their homelands, homes, and their way of life. They watch videos, read books and develop research projects on the struggles of the American Indians.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Intro to Canada

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the geography of Canada by analyzing a map of the country.  In this North American geography lesson, students identify the 13 provinces of Canada and their locations by examining a Canadian map.  Students may use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photography and the National Park Service

For Teachers 9th - 12th
During the 1800s the United States was expanding westward; land was there for the taking.  Kids explore how some early photographers used their photography to influenced the US Congress to save areas like Mirror Lake. They complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad. In this Transcontinental Railroad lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the effect of the railroad on Chinese immigrants and American Indians,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native California Americans

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the differences in the ways of life of five different Native California Tribes. They assess the use of technology, computers and the Internet as valuable investigation tools.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of California Indians

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research information about some of California indigenous tribes to find out as much as possible about the first people found in the west. They research about the history of a selected tribe and their contributions to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's (Not) Just a Bug: Simulating Invasive Insect Predation on a Plant Population

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect on challenges that face farmers in cultivating crops, including insects. They then simulate how crops are affected by native and non-native insect populations and the options farmers have to protect their crops. Finally,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars write from an animal's perspective. In this writing lesson students explore the landscape of San Francisco prior to the arrival of the explorers. Young scholars research animals indigenous to the area.
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Lesson Plan
Channel Islands Film

Telling Your Own Story

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
After watching and discussing a video on the Voyage of Cabrillo, individuals craft their own origin story and design and build an artifact they feel best represents their history.
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Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

History of Immigration From the 1850s to the Present

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The Statue of Liberty may embrace the huddled masses of the world, but has American society always joined in? After young historians read a passage about the history of American immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on...
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Lesson Plan
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

Masks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine traditional masks from Southwest Indian groups and create their own mask based on Internet research. They share their mask with the members of their class.
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 4

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
West of the West's documentary Arlington Springs Man introduces viewers to the remarkable finds on Santa Rosa Island. Archaeologist have discovered on this small island that is part of the Channel island chain, human and pygmy mammoth...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Mission Slide Show

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the details of a California Mission. They design a slide show to present their research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non Native Species: English Ivy-Landscape Plant or Deadly Killer?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine an area overrun by English Ivy. They explore how invasive species affect an ecosystem. They also study about the lack of biodiversity and how to measure it out in the field.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Baker's Gold

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine art of the California Gold Rush. In this visual arts lesson, students analyze the photography and art of Isaac Wallace Baker. Learners also conduct further research about the miners of the era in order to create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Happy Endings: The Final Battle

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore all the myths of the battle of Yorktown. A variety of primary documents are viewed and analyzed for discussion. They become aware that what one sees and hears is not always as it seems in reality. Each group...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Species Restoration and its Impact on Local Populations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners watch video clips of ecosystems and answer questions relating to them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush: Native American Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read," The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola and discuss the way legends are passed down orally. They then create their own legend and illustrate it on a simulated "Buffalo Skin" made from brown paper.
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Lesson Plan
Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Tribal Origin Stories

For Teachers K - 2nd
The teacher reads and retells Californian tribal origin or creation stories that come from the traditions of a variety of California Indian tribes. Then, pupils get together in groups and retell the stories they just heard; just as the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westmoreland Trail

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Westward expansion of the U.S. They play the computer game, Oregon Trail III, read primary source documents, conduct Internet research, write diary entries from the pioneer viewpoint, and...
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Lesson Plan
McGraw Hill

Study Guide for Island of the Blue Dolphins

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Dive your class into a reading of Island of the Blue Dolphins with this in-depth study guide. Breaking the novel into three parts, the resource begins each section with a focus activity that identifies a specific theme or question to be...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bay Area: Race and Land

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the role that racism played in the growth of the Bay Area. They discover how turn-of-the-century boosters promoted a vision of the Bay Area. They study the American Indian Movement's takeover of Alcatraz Island in 1969,...