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Narrative History - Hypertext Dialogues
Students create scripts about California settlers. The document reflects the settlers' fears, expectations, and realizations.
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California: Crossword Puzzle
In this United States history learning exercise, students use the 14 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers pertaining to California.
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The State Seal Online Lesson
Fourth graders investigate the Seal of the State of California and the meaning of its parts.
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California Regions
Students explore and compare and contrast the four main regions of California: mountains, coast, central valley, and desert. students use pictures and research to describe how regions vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife and climate.
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California
Learners read writings by Ralph Waldo Emerson to analyze transcendentalism and analyze photographic essays depicting environmental issues. In this art and history lesson, students read excerpts of Nature by Emerson to identify...
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History Lesson 10: Plyler v. Doe: Can States Deny Public Benefits to Illegal Immigrants?
Learners consider the rights of illegal immigrants. In this illegal immigration instructional activity, students analyze the Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe and determine whether illegal immigrants should have access to public benefits....
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History of San Francisco
Students discover the history of San Francisco. In this San Francisco history lesson, students collaborate to research historical eras of the city and then perform mini-dramas based on their findings.
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Movement and Migration: the Gold Nugget that launched the Gold Rush
Learners learn what it was like to be a gold miner. In this California gold rush lesson, students watch a movie about the California gold rush and discuss what they learned. Learners use the Internet to examine the gold nugget that...
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The Gold Rush Experience: Create Your Own Exhibit
Students create a virtual exhibit. In this gold rush lesson, 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 research and...
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Striking It Rich!
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...
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Sacred Places: California Missions from Different Perspectives
Students create a project poster displaying photos, drawings, and journal writings that incorporate the major themes of California's missions, and use perspective and point of view both visually and in writing.
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California Crops
Students explore agriculture by researching the native food crops of California. Students define a list of agriculture vocabulary terms and analyze maps of California which explain which foods come from which area. Students write a...
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Heading West
Students study the concept of the westward expansion. In this exploration of the western U.S. lesson, students participate in different activities that explain economic hardships, jobs, and land opportunities. Students describe...
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History in the Making: The Tortilla
Fourth graders examine the history of the tortilla and extend the study across the curriculum. In this history of the tortilla lesson, 4th graders research the background of the tortilla, determine the ingredients, and work with the...
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My Secret War: The WWII Diary of Madeline Beck: Lesson 11
Fifth graders explore world history by participating in a class game. In this propaganda lesson, 5th graders identify Madeline Beck and the role women played during World War II. Students create fictitious propaganda posters and...
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From Missions to Ranchos
Fourth graders examine the conversion of the California missions into ranchos. They develop a pros and cons chart, write a first person narrative describing the changing life from the missions to the ranchos, and create a poster of...
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Gold Rush -- Lesson 4
Students continue their examination of the Gold Rush in California. In groups, they use a map to examine the original sites of the towns and what happened to them. They work together to create a brochure for one of the towns and...
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Growth in Southern California
Fourth graders examine the impact of orange crops and the railroad industry on the growth in southern California. They develop a fact list about the history of oranges in California, and create a family tree demonstrating the impact of...
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 1: California in Wartime (pp. 250-253)
Fourth graders explore the crisis of Japanese Americans during World War II. The benefits of the California economy are explored. The lesson has a discussion portion that is culturally relevant for many types of students.
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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.
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 10, Lesson 1: Growth of Industry (pp. 226-230)
Fourth graders discuss the four big events that helped California's southern coast grow in the early 1900's. The events of the digging of San Pedro Harbor and the Panama Canal are included. The effects upon California is looked upon from...
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 3: New Ways of Living (pp. 260-263)
Fourth graders write one fact that pertains to the growth in California suburbs after World War II and another fact that pertains to the changes in the cities. Invite students to share their facts. The class can guess whether the fact...
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 12, Lesson 1 A Struggle for Rights (pp. 270-274)
Fourth graders examine the time period of the 1960's and 70's to have discussions about three different ethnic groups. They examine the issue of discrimination and civil rights. The lesson includes a helpful outline with a hyperlink.
Channel Islands Film
The Legendary King
After viewing two documentaries about the history of the Channel islands, individuals craft an essay in which they compare the lives of Juana Maria, the Lone Woman San Nicolar Island, to Lester Holt and his family featured in the...