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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 2: New Uses of Science and Technology (pp. 255-259)
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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Along the El Camino Real
While studying each of the 21 missions in California, your class will learn about the founders and founding dates of each mission. Note: Some resource links may not be working, but can be supplemented with additional activities found on...
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Early Explorers
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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Teaching with Objects The Gold Nugget
Fourth graders complete activities related to the California gold rush. In this gold rush lesson, 4th graders go to an Internet website video that discusses the gold rush. They complete discuss miner's experiences, sing a gold rush song,...
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Problems Facing Agriculture
Fourth graders examine the conflicts over land ownership and water in the second half of the 1800s in California. They write a criticism about the problems that farmers faced, and work in pairs to define key vocabulary terms.
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Conflicts Between Cultures
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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Historical Moments
Here is a lesson designed to be an ongoing task for the entire year. Each day of the week, learners must perform research to answer a simple historical question. This particular lesson covers the month of April, but the template...
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How the Great Depression Affected California and C¿¿sar E. Ch¿¿vez
Fourth graders examine the effect of the Great Depression on California. After reading a summary, they discover how the depression and Dust Bowl led to the immigration of great numbers of farm workers into California. They also...
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Friar Margil & The Spanish Missions
Students explore the life of Friar Margil de Jesus as well as other Spanish friars. They research Friar Margil and write a paragraph explaining why Spanish friars came to Texas. In groups, students create a PowerPoint presentation...
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Jewish Heroes Congress
Students explore Jewish heroes throughout history. In this character development and history lesson, students work in groups to research a Jewish hero. A life-size model of the hero is constructed. Students participate in a Jewish Heroes...
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California Mission Slide Show
Fourth graders research the details of a California Mission. They design a slide show to present their research.
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Postcards from California: A Unit on Geography, Social Studies, History and California's Resources
Fourth graders examine patterns that influence population density in the various regions of California. The unit's three lessons utilize graphic organizers for the interpretation and presentation of data.
Museum of Tolerance
Cultural Research Activity
Class members explore cultural diversity through a variety of texts that showcase the importance of traditions. Then, they interview their family members to research their own cultural background and write their findings on quilt pieces....
Asian Art Museum
Create Your Own Samurai (Breastplate) Armor
Your class is going to love this activity. They get out their rulers, cardboard, and paints as they make Samurai breastplates. The simple art lesson lends itself to many different subjects such as, math/measurement, world history, and...
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Life on the Trails
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. For this west coast geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students define...
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Founding Myths, Stories that Hide Our Patriotic Past
Young scholars participate in a scavenger hunt using their textbooks to find information about historical events, people and places in US history during the Revolutionary Era. After creating their list of important people, students...
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Gold Rush Quiz
Young scholars take a quiz about the Gold Rush that happened in California. In this Gold Rush lesson plan, students complete 8 multiple choice questions.
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The Gold Rush
Fourth graders practice researching the Gold Rush. In this research activity, 4th graders take the Gold Rush and break it into smaller topics they can research. They fill in a graphic organizer to organize their topic and subtopic.
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Census and Gold Rush Town
Students analyze data and form a mental picture of the make up of a gold rush town. They explain social life in a gold rush town. They use online sources to see paintings of camp life and read accounts of miners' lives.
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Northwest Coast Indians: Spring and Summer Salmon
Here is a fabulous lesson about the cultures of the Northwest Indians. Through an exploration of a story about the Salmon People, learners study the practice of harvesting salmon and the cultural importance of salmon to the Northwest...
Gateways
Teaching the Easter Story
If you are looking for a secular approach to teaching about Easter, this may just be the resource for you. Pupils read a paraphrased text depicting the last supper, arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ as told in the Bible, while also...
Museum of Tolerance
Immigration Journeys
Through the journey of four stories of immigration, scholars complete graphic organizers and apply knowledge to create a visual representation of their findings on a large poster. Third and fourth readers write a letter to their family...
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Westward Ho!
Pupils participate in an Oregon Trail simulation in order to learn the hardships that the emigrating settlers faced. In this U.S. history lesson, students are required to work as a team and use the internet to research a final...
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Globe Lesson 4 - The Compass
Young scholars study compass' and their use in navigation. In this compass lesson, students use a compass and a globe to answer the questions about navigation.