National First Ladies' Library
Mining Disasters
Learners examine the risks and sacrifices miners have made in order for all of us to have the use of precious metals. They explore the "Miners Museum" website and read the article on uses of coal. They brainstorm a list of what would be...
Curated OER
Movement and Migration: the Gold Nugget that launched the Gold Rush
Students learn what it was like to be a gold miner. For this California gold rush lesson, students watch a movie about the California gold rush and discuss what they learned. Students use the Internet to examine the gold nugget that...
Curated OER
Countries of South America
Middle schoolers focus on the geography of the countries of South America. Using a map, they identify the European countries who claimed the South American countries and research the influences they had on South America. To end the...
Curated OER
Spotlight on Mexico
In this Mexico worksheet, students research different questions about Mexico. Students use the internet or books to research 20 questions about Mexico.
Curated OER
Teaching with Objects The Gold Nugget
Fourth graders complete activities related to the California gold rush. In this gold rush lesson plan, 4th graders go to an Internet website video that discusses the gold rush. They complete discuss miner's experiences, sing a gold rush...
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Census and Gold Rush Town
Students analyze data and form a mental picture of the make up of a gold rush town. They explain social life in a gold rush town. They use online sources to see paintings of camp life and read accounts of miners' lives.
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History of the American West
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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Graphing and Analyzing Biome Data
Students explore biome data. In this world geography and weather data analysis lesson, students record data about weather conditions in North Carolina, Las Vegas, and Brazil. Students convert Fahrenheit degrees to Celsius degrees and use...
Curated OER
Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Save a Tree
Students examine how to save and protect trees. For this conservation lesson, students read books about the usefulness of trees, write ideas in their journals about how trees can be used, and make a book of ways to protect trees.
Curated OER
Adventures in Archaeology
Expose your archaeologists to a variety of vocabulary words that deal with people who work in the fields of archeology, anthropology, and paleontology. Pictures accompany each of the slides so there is a visual associated with each...
K12 Reader
Discrimination Against Gold Rush Immigrants
Immigration to the US has been a topic of discussion for many years. Inform your class about discrimination against immigrants during the Gold Rush with a short reading passage. After reading, class members answer five questions related...
Curated OER
One World Ocean
Students compare and contrast the properties of salt water in the oceans/seas and freshwater elsewhere on the planet. They also analyze mixing caused by currents in the ocean, including the effects of warm and cold water as well as with...
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A State Divided - Maryland in the Civil War Era
Students use primary sources to see how Maryland was a divided state during the time leading up to the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plan, students go over vocabulary, and look at maps that show the division of opinions of people...
Curated OER
Building A Topographic Model
Pupils visualize, in three dimensions, features represented by contour lines on a topographic map. They see that the different elevations shown on a two dimensional topographic map can be used to build a 3-D model.
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Alaska Purchase
For this reading comprehension and geography worksheet, learners read a selection about the Alaska Purchase, its origins as a state, and its attributes. They answer 7 fill in the blank questions using information from the selection.
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Tree Friends
Students are introduced to tree structure and use. They identify their special tree using all senses except sight. Students identify six different internal parts within a cross section of tree trunk (bark, phloem, xylem, cambium,...
Curated OER
Nevada Mines 1850-1880
Students explore the Nevada mining of 1850-1880. For this history lesson, students investigate the Comstock Lode and examine the mining tools that were used to search for silver and gold.
Curated OER
Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"
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.
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Zoo Welcomes Baby Animals
Students engage in activities to gain a better understanding of endangered animals. In these animal lessons, students use vocabulary and comprehension skills to gain a better understanding of endangered animals. They also watch video...
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The Gold Rush
Students identify the routes involved in the Gold Rush on a map. In this map skills lesson, 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 map...
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Early Arkansas Geography
Seventh graders locate and describe historical Arkansas while using a historical map.
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Personal Heritage
Fourth graders investigate their personal heritage. In this personal heritage lesson, 4th graders fill in an outline with information about their personal heritage. They create a poster about themselves. This lesson is aimed at diversity...
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Traveling/Mapping
Students examine routes to gold. In this California gold rush lesson, students map land and water routes to California. Students use maps to copy the routes that they want to market to gold diggers.
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Antarctica I
Students explore exploring and expiditions then simlate their own on campus. They divide into small "expedition groups." Have each team report back to the class about their expeditions, using written, oral, or videotaped presentations.