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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Masculine Heroes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What were the driving forces behind American expansion in the nineteenth century, and what were its effects? Scholars watch a video, read biographies, engage in discussion, write journals and poetry, draw, and create a multimedia...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Mountain: Real Gold or Fool's Gold

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a meeting of one of the Six Companies that serves the needs of Chineese immigrants to California in the 1840's. Jobs are researched, profiles filed, posters designed, Chinese immigrant life examined in this lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

San Francisco Explodes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners investigate why San Francisco grew so quickly during the Gold Rush. They
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Go West Young Man#148

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars determine the difference between immigration and emigration. They read and listen to books about emigration westward during the Gold Rush years. They examine life in Gold Rush towns while determining why gold is so...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decision-Making Scenerios

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders review what they have gathered on the Gold Rush and how the Native Americans lived in the Plains. Using a worksheet, they choose one scenerio they would have liked to be a part of and write their opionions about it...
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Interactive
University of Richmond

The Overland Trails 1840-1860

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What led Americans to head west in the 1800s? Using an interactive map and journals from those who traveled, pupils explore the stories of those who migrated. In addition, they see how the numbers fluctuated in response to the push-pull...
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Assessment
New York State Education Department

US History and Government Examination: August 2011

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Using primary source documents, pupils consider how the United States' democratic story has evolved over time. A second essay question examines the role of geography in history, and multiple-choice questions sharpen test-taking skills.
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Reasons for Westward Expansion

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
"Go West, young man!" is a familiar refrain in American history. But why did people leave their homes in the East to travel westward and what impact did that movement have on people already living in the American West? By examining...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of the American West

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Opportunity and Discrimination, A Dream of Gold

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students focus on what it means to be a citizen of the United States and why the Chinese Exclusion Act is important when considering the concept of racism.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The California Gold Rush:

For Teachers 3rd - 10th
Learners complete an Internet treasure hunt designed to give them practice in using Internet resources.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Values and Beliefs of Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the beliefs of Manifest Destiny and its role in the California Gold Rush. They analyze a painting to gather information about Manifest Destiny.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigrant Arrivals

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a multimedia presentation comparing the experiences of immigrants who arrived at New York's Ellis Island with the experiences of those who arrived at California's Angel Island.
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Printables
Teachnology

Westward Expansion Vocabulary

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Here is a nice set of worksheets that your kids can use while studying the fascinating period of Westward Expansion in the United States. Types of worksheets include a vocabulary quiz, acrostic poem handout, reading comprehension, word...
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Human Impact on the Food Web of Santa Cruz Island

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What happens when a non-native species is introduced onto an island? Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Island chain located off the coast of southern California, provides the perfect laboratory for young environmental scientists to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Savvy in Sacramento

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students take a field trip to the state capital, Sacramento. Using the Internet, they explain the physical and human geographic features of the area and discuss interactions between the people of California between the time of explorers...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debate: Whose Land Is It?

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students identify the main factors involved in determining who was able to claim the land of California as their own. They determine the factors of unjustness in the Gold Rush times. Students reflect on what they learned from the debate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Why Is the Sacremento Valley a Good Place to Grow Rice?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders locate the Sacramento Valley in California where rice is grown. In this rice growing location lesson, 3rd graders locate the Sacremento Valley, California on a map, and color the mountain ranges and terrain that is around...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Accuse Colored Peoples of California V. State of California

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students participate in a WebQuest to investigate discrimination of African Americans, Chinese and Californio/Latino during the Gold Rush era. They act as law clerks to write a letter to their clients about a potential trial.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Links to the Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners use documents from California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900 , in American Memory to create a script depicting the motivations, expectations, fears, and realizations of immigrants who settled California between...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students locate California and New York on a map and explore available means of travel in the 19th century. Students explore the role of trade in pioneer America and simulate various barter transactions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Mountain

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils read primary and secondary sources to find jobs as a Chinese immigrant. In groups they create a chart listing jobs for Chinese and write a letter about employment and living conditions to a Chinese friend.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ship of Gold

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students research the events that were taking place in the U.S. during the time period when the SS Central America sank, and explore the adventurous, innovative, and individualistic traits that often define the American spirit.

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