Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories

For Students 9th - 10th
This site highlights the westward expansion of settlers in North America and the effects this expansion had on Native Americans between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Website
Other

California State University: Group Portrait of Native Americans by C. B. King

For Students 9th - 10th
A reproduction of "Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri, and Pawnees" by Charles Bird King.
Unit Plan
The Best Notes

The Best Notes: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'dell

For Students 3rd - 8th
This is an online study guide/notes for the children's novel Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis. This novel is...
Website
Oakland Museum of California

California's Untold Stories: Natives and Immigrants

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a tour through the history of natives and immigrants to the California Gold Rush area, including African American, California Indian, Chinese, and Latino.
Handout
Other

California State Military Museum: Mariposa Indian War, 1850 1851

For Students 9th - 10th
The California State Military Museum has captured the history of the Indian Wars. This is a synopsis of the Mariposa Indian War which occurred between 1850-1851, the best known battle during the Gold Rush years.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Redwood National Park: American Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of the California Indian cultures from the northwestern part of the State: Tolowa, Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk.
Website
Other

Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin

For Students 9th - 10th
Looking for information on the Coast Miwok, look no further. The Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin offers this resource.
Activity
Other

Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Website
Other

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians: History of the Chumash People

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a history of the Chumash Indians and learn about their way of life before contact with the Spanish. Find out about their large domed houses, plank canoes, and impressive cave paintings.
Unit Plan
Other

California Newsreel Teacher's Guide: Black Boy

For Students 9th - 10th
Have you ever read any of Richard Wright's work? This site offers an extensive crosscurricular Teacher's Guide that includes questions for research and writing.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: California State History for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Did you know California's history included early explorers, Native Americans, the Gold Rush, and the Bear Republic? Learn about the history and timeline of the state of California on this site.
Graphic
Curated OER

Perry Castaneda Map Collection: Map of Early Indian Tribes in the Western u.s.

For Students 9th - 10th
Map showing the Native American culture areas and the tribes within those cultures in western North America. From the Perry Castaneda collection.
Article
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ranch/mission Days Alta California

For Students 9th - 10th
An 1890 article in "Century Magazine" by Guadalupe Vallejo relates his understanding of Hispanic influences on ranches and missions that existed in California before it became a state.
Handout
Other

Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A very complete look at the Chumash Indians of California from the Lompoc Museum. Read an overview of how the Chumash lived and took advantage of their environment. Follow links to see maps of where they lived and information about their...
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The American West: The Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the impact of the California Gold Rush of 1848 which brought hundreds of thousands of gold-seeking migrants to the region. This massive influx of people to a place with little law enforcement and no infrastructure led to...
Website
Other

Access Genealogy: Shasta Indian Tribe

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a thorough description of the Shasta Indian Tribe. Author discusses Shasta culture, language, location, customs, food, and art. The writing in this article contains some negative language that is probably due to the time in which...
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Collision of Cultures

For Students 9th - 10th
This page discusses the many different cultures that came to California during the gold rush.
Primary
Oakland Museum of California

California's Untold Stories: Silver and Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a virtual tour of the mining of silver and gold in California through excellent photos and facts.
Website
Mission Tour

Mission Tour: A Virtual Tour of the California Missions: Chumash

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of the culture of the Chumash. Read about their canoes, houses, and understanding of astronomy.
Handout
Other

County of El Dorado: A Peaceful People Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the basic history of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Journeys West

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which students explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Yokuts

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Yokuts. Gives basic facts about location, language, folklore, foods, social customs, family life, education, religion, pastimes, societal challenges, and much more.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Point Reyes National Seashore: Coast Miwok at Point Reyes

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Park Services provides an enlightening overview of the history and culture of the Coast Miwok tribe at Point Reyes, California.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Impact of the Mexican Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Seee how Mexico's independence from Spain affected not only the Mexicans who lived in California, but also the native population, and the white Americans.