Jump into traditional Chinese culture with budding readers as they examine vocabulary in context through Shirin Yim Bridge's book Ruby's Wish. This book is read on YouTube if you don't have it on hand. Scholars are briefly introduced to...

Fourth graders read about the era in their history books, write in their journals revolving around the Gold Rush, making crafts such as newspapers, and also play the part of the Forty-niners.

A panorama of the mid-19th century in America, this series of images present several issues that were prevalent before the Civil War. Territorial and social conflicts were heated during this time, and one map in particular shows a...

Learners examine the impact of the California Gold Rush. In this U.S. history lesson, students use several included documents to examine the causes and effects of the Gold Rush. Learners are broken up into groups and choose one topic to...

Students explore the California Gold Rush.  In this U.S. history Gold Rush instructional activity, students view and analyze a number of authentic documents that originated during the California Gold Rush.  Students identify images that...

Students create a virtual exhibit. In this gold rush instructional activity, students watch a movie about the California gold rush, view a virtual image of the gold nugget that started the gold rush and examine the sources. Students...

Students learn what it was like to be a gold miner. In this California gold rush lesson plan, students watch a movie about the California gold rush and discuss what they learned. Students use the Internet to examine the gold nugget that...

Fifth graders explore the California Gold Rush. They explore the lure of gold and the Wild West, how pioneers traveled to the West, and the hardships and people they encountered along the way. Activities be authentic, hands-on, and...

While incomplete, this lesson could provide ideas for a lesson on the California gold rush. Learners look at a chart to analyze population growth in San Francisco after the discovery of gold, analyze political changes that occurred, and...

Learners examine the impact California Gold Rush on families. For this California history lesson, students analyze images, letters, and documents from the era to determine how the families were changed by the Gold Rush. Several handouts...

Learners examine routes to gold. In this California gold rush lesson, students map land and water routes to California. Learners use maps to copy the routes that they want to market to gold diggers.

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Chinese immigration lesson, students research the Chinese immigration between 1850 and 1882.

Students identify the routes involved in the Gold Rush on a map. In this map skills activity, 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...

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...

Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its development since the 1850's.

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...

Students trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 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.