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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Muir in California

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders listen to key events in John Muir's life and plot locations on a California map. They discover that John Muir was an immigrant to California who encountered environmental problems and found solutions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Many Cultures

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study about several aspects of human culture, specifically those in California. They examine California's agriculture, industry, and economic changes; and cultural changes since 1850.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anza's Historical Journals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the journal of Juan Bautista de Anza. They reflect on his first exploratory expedition into present-day California.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Las Misiones de California

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work in partners to complete a series of activities. After reading the introduction, Students select a role of either a "Padre" or "Indigena." As partners, they need time on the computer for research as well as time to...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

California Cities Word Search

For Students 2nd - 5th
In this California cities word search worksheet, students locate and identify the 10 cities in the word bank within the word search puzzle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heading West

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the concept of the westward expansion. In this exploration of the western U.S. instructional activity, students participate in different activities that explain economic hardships, jobs, and land opportunities. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Mission: The Last Mission

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders develop a research report to determine the best location for the final California mission. They conduct Internet research, create charts and diagrams, and develop a presentation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Right to Education for California's Minorities and Immigrants

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the elements of various court cases and how state and federal laws affect them. They participate in a series of mock trials to gain a better understanding of the issues involved.
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 2

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why are Torrey pines only found in La Jolla, California and on Santa Rosa Island? Class members examine images of Torrey pines from these two locations, noting the similarities and differences, and then develop a demonstration model that...
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Lesson Plan
Channel Islands Film

Magic Isle: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
What are the factors that limit growth and expansion? As part of their study of Catalina Island, class members view the West of the West's documentary Magic Isle and research William Wrigley and the Santa Catalina Island Company. After...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of California Indians

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research information about some of California indigenous tribes to find out as much as possible about the first people found in the west. They research about the history of a selected tribe and their contributions to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Electricity Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study the causes of electricity shortage in California in 2000-2001. In this social studies lesson, students evaluate the effect of the deregulation process. They discuss the actions taken by the government to solve the crisis.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native California Americans

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the differences in the ways of life of five different Native California Tribes. They assess the use of technology, computers and the Internet as valuable investigation tools.
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growth in Southern California

For Teachers 4th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California's First Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read excerpts from speeches made at the California Constitutional Convention. They predict what the state constitution say about slavery and other issues concerning race.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneers in California

For Teachers 4th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies/Chapter 11, Lesson 1: California in Wartime (pp. 250-253)

For Teachers 4th
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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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Learning to craft quality questions is a skill that can be taught. Class members use the Question Formulation Technique to learn how to create and refine both closed-ended and open-ended questions. They then view West of the West's...
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Lesson Plan
Museum of Tolerance

Improving My Community Through Social Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Action is the heart of change. Encourage class members to not only identify critical social justice issues in their school or community but to take action as well. As individuals or as groups, they research a situation, develop a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Along the El Camino Real

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
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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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

Legacies of El Dorado

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the development of urban California as it was driven by the Gold Rush boom. They study historical documents and participate in a variety of hands-on activities designed to reinforce the concept of the lesson.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cinco De Mayo: ELD Reading and Language-Building

For Students 5th - 10th
A brief passage about the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo is accompanied by an array of language activities for ELD: cloze exercise, phrase matching, word jumble, multiple choice, sequencing, interview, group presentation, fluency writing,...