Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gam Saan Adventure- Are You Willing to Risk it?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its development since the 1850's.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Cause and Effect

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Identify the author's organizational pattern for expressing ideas. After reading an article on the California Gold Rush, middle schoolers determine the author's purpose for writing a passage of informational text. A full list of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE GAM SAAN ADVENTURE ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK IT?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the lasting influence of the Pony Express, Overland Mail Service, Western Union, and the building of the transcontinental railroad, including the contributions of Chinese workers to its construction. They explore the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

San Francisco Explodes

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

Go West Young Man#148

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students 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 valuable....
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...
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Dollar Goes A Long Way

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Investigate life along the Old Spanish Trail! They visit websites and identify the history and environment. They create journals, dramatic enactments, and maps to discover the role individuals played in society. They also explore the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Road to California - A Journey to Freedom

For Teachers K - 5th
Students complete a Web quest about Biddy Mason's journey Westward to California as a slave and her ultimate rise to one of the wealthiest and generous woman of the Westward Movement. They present an exhibit of their research.
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,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Intermediate Level Lesson Plan THEMATIC ESSAY

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify three reasons why conflict arose in the Western United States during the late 1800s. Using specific examples, discuss how the United States government attempted to resolve these conflicts. Evaluate whether these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debate: Whose Land Is It?

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Biblical Perspective

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners analyze money using a Biblical and business perspective. In this algebra lesson, students define their money relationship biblically and in a business fashion. They compare their view with the view of someone in the Gold Rush days.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Accuse Colored Peoples of California V. State of California

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Pupils 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Washoe Indians: Dat-so-la-lee

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars study the life and crafts of Washoe Indian, Dat-so-la-lee. In this Washoe Indians lesson, students read and study the life of Washoe Indian basket weaver Dat-so-la-lee. Young scholars study images of her crafts and discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh My Darling

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discuss human interaction with the environment and sing "Clementine" with historical fiction lyrics. They create a map or model of a mining camp in which Clementine may have lived. They discuss what might happen to their...
Worksheet
Central Bucks School District

Making Generalizations

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Being able to recognize patterns, craft generalizations, and draw conclusions based on information in a text passage are essential critical thinking skills. Encourage learners to hone these skills with a learning exercise that asks them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

BEGINNER LEVEL LESSON PLAN

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs) for evidence of Native American culture and construct a cultural symbol. They are explained what the stars and stripes stand for on the American flag. Students work as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Legend of Freedom Hill

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book The Legend of Freedom Hill. In this reading lesson plan, 3rd graders complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Those Golden Jeans - Demand Schedule

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students build a demand schedule, and analyze a supply schedule for slices of cheese pizza, and then determine the market clearing price. They analyze the market if prices are set above or below the market clearing price.
Worksheet
Curated OER

US History

For Students 6th - 10th
In this US History worksheet, learners complete the crossword puzzle using the clues at the bottom of the page. There are 34 clues in total on this worksheet.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Grew to the West

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this westward growth activity, students use lyrics given to follow along with the song "Grew to the West," filling in blanks to answer simple questions throughout. Students then answer 10 additional questions about the song. Song link...
Worksheet
Curated OER

4 and 5 Digit Dividends

For Students 4th - 5th
In this dividend activity, students divide to solve 6 word problems. All problems have 4 or 5 digit dividends. Problems 1 and 2 have been started for students.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The American West-Knowledge Test

For Students 4th - 5th
In this American West worksheet, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on worksheet.