Curated OER
The Pony Express
Fourth graders reasearch the history of the Pony Express on the internet or they can use books from the school or public library. They write a one-page story which incorporates their research. They share their stories with the class by...
Curated OER
Pioneers in California
Fourth graders examine the changes the pioneers brought to California in the 1800's. They develop a timeline that includes captions, symbols, and pictures, and write a paragraph describing the experiences of the early California pioneers.
Curated OER
Motivational Introduction to the California Gold Rush
Fourth graders download pictures and write script for narration as they create a KidPix slide show to introduce the study of the California Gold Rush.
Curated OER
Making A New Nation
Eighth graders read standard road maps and topographical maps, and examine the lives of pathfinders who opened the trails to the West. They develop Living History presentations, role-playing a character from the past.
Curated OER
San Francisco Explodes
Students investigate why San Francisco grew so quickly during the Gold Rush. They
Library of Congress
Loc: "California as I Saw It"
Digital collection features first-person accounts from the time of the Gold Rush and California statehood through the turn of the twentieth century. Presents detailed information about localities and people important to the state during...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Spanish Missions of California
Students can use this page as a jumping off page to do research on Spanish missions in California. There are numerous links to Scholastic articles and to other websites on subtopics such as missionaries, Franciscans and places in...
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Californio Society, 1830s 1880s
Collection of photos and drawings depicting early California elite and maps of land use from which students can learn about the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development in the 1800s.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Rich Resources
From Primary source images and informational text learn about the natural and human-driven resources and land use in California and how they have contributed to the growth of California.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Everyday Life, 1850s 1890s
Primary source images and informational text highlight the diverse population found in mid 19th century California.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Gold Rush Era: Murder and Mayhem
A collection of primary source materials and informational text that looks at law and order in the "wild west" of California, identifying changing ethnicity in a growing population seeking gold and other resources.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Gold Rush Era: Everyday Life and People
A collection of primary source photos from 19th-century California which portray what everyday life was like during the California Gold Rush.
Calisphere: University of California Libraries
University of California: Calisphere: Gold Rush Era, 1848 1865: Growth of Cities
Primary source images depicting the rapid growth of small settlements into big cities as people continued to come to California from all over the world during the Gold Rush.
Other
San Diego History Center: Before the War: The Japanese in San Diego
A good article that describes the struggles Japanese Americans experienced while trying to make a living as fishermen in southern California. The articles focuses on the story of Abe Tokunoske and how his success in the fishing industry...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Golden Gate National Recreational Area is rich in California historical landmarks, historical buildings, military defenses, wildlife, famous people, and so much more as offered by National Park Services.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Golden Gate National Recreational Area
Golden Gate National Recreational Area is rich in California historical landmarks, historical buildings, military defenses, wildlife, famous people, and so much more as offered by National Park Services.
Other
California State Parks: Paleontology
The California State Parks present an excellent unit to local geology of Borrego Badlands to Salton Trough. Through lessons plans, power point presentations, and a videoconference students will take a closer look into fossils and the...
A&E Television
History.com: California
Take a detailed look at the state of California! From its earliest history and peoples, to present day facts which include population, climate, geography, plants and animals, economy, government, cultural life, sports and recreation,...
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...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Coming to California [Pdf]
In this lesson, 4th graders examine entries from Juan Bautista de Anza's diary and other documents to understand the experiences and obstacles he and his companions faced as they traveled from Arizona to California in 1774. Student...
Other
California Historical Society: California History Online
With over four hundred original images, this site covers periods in California's history from 1600 to the 1930s. Topics covered include the geography and climate of California, early aboriginal groups, the first European explorers, the...
Kidport
Kidport: The California Gold Rush (1848 to 1859)
From here, access simple write-ups on the San Francisco Gold Rush. Topics covered include: "Life of a 49er," "Foreign Miners," "Law and Order," and "After the Gold Rush."
PBS
Pbs: Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
This PBS site offers the biography of Vallejo, a California Mexican who placed his faith in the United States government, only to lose most of his land and political power.
Other
California Museum
The California Museum tells the history of California through the stories of the men and women and the events that have shaped and that are continuing to shape its history.