Curated OER
A Brief History of Los Angeles
Learners study the diverse cultures that make up the population of Los Angeles.
Curated OER
SEEDS WE EAT
Young scholars identify seeds humans eat and do not eat. Students make seed collections, using common kitchen foods. Young scholars display seeds from the foods they serve and discuss them with their guests. Students complete activities...
Curated OER
SHOW 303: The Channel Island Fox
Learners explore how archaeologists and other scientists use different clues to piece together a picture of the past. Students perform activities that allow them to conduct three types of scientific research. They discuss their...
Curated OER
Volcanoes: How Safe Are They?
Students explore the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth, plot their locations, and research different volcanic hazards.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of the American Indian: Infinity of Nations: Culture Quest
Learn about ten different nations of Native Americans in both North and South America by playing this Culture Quest game from the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to the game, there are many other options to choose to learn about...
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Spanish Missions in California
This primary source set uses documents, photographs, and artwork to tell the story of the development and impact of Spanish missions in California during the Mission period.
Other
Cabrillo College: An Introduction to California's Native People: Missionization
This site discusses the mission movement in California and its effect on the Native Americans. Timeline of the missions' founding is also provided.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Five Views: A History of American Indians in California
A history of five tribes in the California Native American culture area.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories
This site highlights the westward expansion of settlers in North America and the effects this expansion had on Native Americans between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Other
American Journeys: Background on Francisco Palou and Father Junipero Serra
Find background information about the life of Father Junipero Serra and his biographer, Father Francisco Palou. Read about the missions they established in California and their work in converting Native Americans to Christianity. Click...
Other
Gold, Greed, & Genocide: The Story of California's 1849 Gold Rush
Use the table of contents to explore this site which recounts the plight of the Native Americans who lived in California before the Gold Rush and the impact of the gold rush on their lives.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Us History Map: Arctic, Northwest Coast and California Tribes
A brief description of some of the main Native American tribes that lived in the Arctic, along the Northwest Coast, and in California.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: United States History Map: Indians
An interactive site showing the Native American culture areas and the major tribes living in those areas before the arrival of the Europeans. Click to find out more about Indians living in those area and find a game that challenges you...
Other
California Missions Resource Center
Peruse this thorough resource featuring historical California missions stretching from San Diego to San Francisco as the Spanish established themselves on the west coast of North America between 1768-1853. Read stories of the early...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ranch/mission Days Alta California
An 1890 article in "Century Magazine" by Guadalupe Vallejo relates his understanding of Hispanic influences on ranches and missions that existed in California before it became a state.
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Natives and Immigrants
This site provides a tour through the history of natives and immigrants to the California Gold Rush area, including African American, California Indian, Chinese, and Latino.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Channel Islands National Park: Native Inhabitants
Read about the Chumash lived on the Channel Islands off the coast of California, how they built plank canoes from redwood trees to sail in the ocean, and why they were such successful traders.
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Silver and Gold
This site provides a virtual tour of the mining of silver and gold in California through excellent photos and facts.
Curated OER
Perry Castaneda Map Collection: Map of Early Indian Tribes in the Western u.s.
Map showing the Native American culture areas and the tribes within those cultures in western North America. From the Perry Castaneda collection.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in California: Walker Pass
Joseph Reddeford Walker mapped this pass in 1834 after learning of it from Native Americans. He then led the first immigrant wagon train through it in 1846. This pass significantly contributed to the development of California.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in California: Hubert H. Bancroft Ranch House
Adobe home of historian and ethnologist Hubert Howe Bancroft, publisher of many Pacific Coast histories and books on Native American culture.
Other
Access Genealogy: Shasta Indian Tribe
This is a thorough description of the Shasta Indian Tribe. Author discusses Shasta culture, language, location, customs, food, and art. The writing in this article contains some negative language that is probably due to the time in which...
Sacramento Bee
Gold Rush: Indians' Misfortune Was Stamped in Gold
This CalGoldRush site discussses the triumphs and hardships of Indians during the California gold rush. Some became rich, but many were sold into slavery.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Journeys West
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?"