Lesson Plan
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Ethnic Family Life

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the impact of the gold rush on different cultures.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders examine the reasons for ethnic diversity in the west. 
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson plan, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Learners use their findings to create scripts that link primary...
Lesson Plan
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Marsquest

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students play a role as a travel guide to Mars, they are broken up into groups or different roles.  In this exploratory lesson students play a role in helping travelers to Mars and create some kind of presentation, for example a...
Lesson Plan
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Chinese Immigration in the Mid-19th Century

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Chinese immigration activity, students research the Chinese immigration between 1850 and 1882.
Worksheet
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Grade 6 Reading and Writing Assessment

For Students 5th - 6th
In this grade 6 reading and writing activity, students complete an assessment. Students read the poems and essays about the Gold Rush and complete the essay questions on the lines provided.
Lesson Plan
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Metaphorical Gold: Mining the Gold Rush for Stories

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners complete a history and research lesson about the Gold Rush using selections from Jack London. In this Gold rush research lesson, students research the Klondike/Alaska Gold Rush and use details from the history in their own...
Lesson Plan
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Dust Bowl Exodus: How Drought and the Depression Took Their Toll

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils examine the migration of refugees. In this California history instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of how the Dust Bowl and Great Depression led to a California...
Lesson Plan
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California Missions Project-Using Publisher

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students create a California Missions magazine that includes a Table of Contents, pictures, and websites. In this culture and history lesson, students research missions and write and create a magazine article about it.
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The Gold Rush

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify the routes involved in the Gold Rush on a map. In this map skills lesson, students use a United States map to locate the routes used to travel to California during the Gold Rush. Students demonstrate how to use the map...
Lesson Plan
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History Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the significant events in America's history. Students listen to a variety of books based on significant historical events in America. Students divide into 6 groups, each of which is responsible for researching...
Worksheet
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California- Gold Fever

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Gold Rush instructional activity, students read a one page article with pictures and maps pertaining to the Gold Rush in California in 1949. Students then answer 4 essay questions.
Worksheet
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Gold Rush

For Students 6th - 8th
In this gold rush worksheet, learners utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the nation during the time period. A short answer question is included as well.
Worksheet
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The Moon

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science activity, students complete each of the statements with the correct word or phrase about the moon. Then they identify four ways that scientists believe the moon was formed, selecting one and writing a paragraph...
Lesson Plan
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The Founding of Los Angeles, California

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the social and cultural impact of settler groups in California and the origins of the founding of Los Angeles, California. They read and discuss an informational handout, and discuss what it is and was like to...
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California Missions

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the Spanish influence upon California missions. Using the internet and other resource tools, they research a particular mission and write about its schedule, events, and beliefs. In groups, 4th graders create board...
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Gold Rush -- Lesson 4

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students continue their examination of the Gold Rush in California. In groups, they use a map to examine the original sites of the towns and what happened to them. They work together to create a brochure for one of the towns and...
Lesson Plan
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The Gold Rush: An Introduction

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the Gold Rush in relation to "To Build a Fire." They research a website and view a Power Point presentation on the Alaskan Gold Rush. They write notes on a graphic organizer and write a sentence supporting their...
Lesson Plan
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"Go West, Young Man!"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine reasons why people migrated west. They describe how the geography of the U.S. changed in the 19 th century and design a PowerPoint presentation to convey factors for westward expansion.
Lesson Plan
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Famous People of the Gold Rush

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research a famous person from the Gold Rush era. Using the Internet, they take notes from creditable websites and write their rough drafts of their paper. They use peer editing to check for spelling and grammar errors. ...
Lesson Plan
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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.
Lesson Plan
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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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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...
Lesson Plan
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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.
Lesson Plan
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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...