Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS TEACHER RESOURCE

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The California Gold RushThe California Gold Rush

Mrs. Murray’s 4Mrs. Murray’s 4thth Grade Grade

eMINTS ClassroomeMINTS Classroom

2Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS TEACHER RESOURCE

The Rush Is On....The Rush Is On....

• On December 5, 1848, President James K. Polk confirmed the tales of On December 5, 1848, President James K. Polk confirmed the tales of gold in his State of the Union address. The race was on. Thousands of gold in his State of the Union address. The race was on. Thousands of individuals began streaming out west across America -- some by land, individuals began streaming out west across America -- some by land, some by sea. Thousands more traveled from other countries to some by sea. Thousands more traveled from other countries to California. Some found the quick riches of their dreams. Most faced California. Some found the quick riches of their dreams. Most faced unending days of monotonous, back-breaking labor.unending days of monotonous, back-breaking labor.

• In 1849, at the height of the California Gold Rush, as many as 80,000 In 1849, at the height of the California Gold Rush, as many as 80,000 gold-seeking “forty-niners” poured into California. Although few of gold-seeking “forty-niners” poured into California. Although few of them made fortunes out of panning for gold, many of them stayed to them made fortunes out of panning for gold, many of them stayed to farm and start businesses. Getting to California however, was not an farm and start businesses. Getting to California however, was not an easy feat easy feat

3Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS TEACHER RESOURCE

The JourneyThe Journey

• Gold-seekers had to find a way to get to Gold-seekers had to find a way to get to California. It was a long way and there California. It was a long way and there were no railroads or long rivers to float on were no railroads or long rivers to float on to California. Instead, they must choose to California. Instead, they must choose between a long, long trip across land or a between a long, long trip across land or a shorter trip by sea. Either way, the trip was shorter trip by sea. Either way, the trip was going to be a test of their endurance.going to be a test of their endurance.

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5Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS TEACHER RESOURCE

The Arrival.....The Arrival.....

• Fortune-seekers arrived by boat and wagon from Fortune-seekers arrived by boat and wagon from everywhere in the world, to set up camps and everywhere in the world, to set up camps and stake their claims in the hope of achieving stake their claims in the hope of achieving fabulous wealth. Some did, but a far greater fabulous wealth. Some did, but a far greater number found unrelenting poverty, disease and number found unrelenting poverty, disease and death.death.

• Play Video: Trail to Riches: The California Gold Play Video: Trail to Riches: The California Gold Rush and Settlement of the Pacific NorthwestRush and Settlement of the Pacific Northwest

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Things To Think About....Things To Think About....

• Once the gold rush era was over in California, large companies Once the gold rush era was over in California, large companies and investors began to build huge mines all around the and investors began to build huge mines all around the countryside to look for gold and precious stones deep within the countryside to look for gold and precious stones deep within the earth. Many accidents occurred, leaving poor mine workers earth. Many accidents occurred, leaving poor mine workers crippled or dead. These mines also scarred the natural landscape crippled or dead. These mines also scarred the natural landscape of the area.of the area.

• As you look over the photographs on the next few slides, think As you look over the photographs on the next few slides, think about the following questions:about the following questions:

• What were some of the major risks for miners?What were some of the major risks for miners?• Why were there not more controls on the safety of mines?Why were there not more controls on the safety of mines?• How could mining change the surrounding land? Would it help it or How could mining change the surrounding land? Would it help it or

hurt it?hurt it?• What equipment would you need to be a forty-niner?What equipment would you need to be a forty-niner?• What would you do if you suddenly struck it rich?What would you do if you suddenly struck it rich?• Is there still gold in California?Is there still gold in California?

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9Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS TEACHER RESOURCE

10Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS STUDENT HANDOUT

The TaskThe Task

• Use the internet to research the California Gold Rush. Collect information on Use the internet to research the California Gold Rush. Collect information on the land routes and the water routes. the land routes and the water routes.

• Create a table, chart, or graphic organizer in Kidspiration to compare the Create a table, chart, or graphic organizer in Kidspiration to compare the advantages and disadvantages of traveling over land with traveling over water. advantages and disadvantages of traveling over land with traveling over water.

• Print your final product. Print your final product. • Carefully evaluate both routes and create a poster advertising the route you Carefully evaluate both routes and create a poster advertising the route you

would have taken to California during the big rush. would have taken to California during the big rush. • Include words and illustrations showing that you know; WHO, WHAT, Include words and illustrations showing that you know; WHO, WHAT,

WHEN, WHERE, about the Gold Rush. WHEN, WHERE, about the Gold Rush. • Your poster must have a map with the route you’re advertising drawn on it. Your poster must have a map with the route you’re advertising drawn on it. • The poster should also include three reasons for choosing the route you’re The poster should also include three reasons for choosing the route you’re

advertising. Each reasoning must be supported by historical details. advertising. Each reasoning must be supported by historical details.

11Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS STUDENT HANDOUT

Useful LinksUseful Links

• All About The Gold RushAll About The Gold Rush• http://www.isu.edu/%7Etrinmich/allabout.htmlhttp://www.isu.edu/%7Etrinmich/allabout.html• Women In The Gold RushWomen In The Gold Rush• http://claim.goldrush.com/~joann/http://claim.goldrush.com/~joann/• First Person Narrative: First Person Narrative: American Memory CollectionAmerican Memory Collection, Diary and Letters The Trip, Diary and Letters The Trip• http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/upbover:@field(DOCID+@lit(dia5582T000))http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/upbover:@field(DOCID+@lit(dia5582T000))• The JourneyThe Journey• http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey.htmlhttp://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey.html• California Gold -- Migrating to California: Overland, around the Horn, and via PanamaCalifornia Gold -- Migrating to California: Overland, around the Horn, and via Panama• http://www.duke.edu/~agf2/history391/migration.htmlhttp://www.duke.edu/~agf2/history391/migration.html• Gold Rush MuseumGold Rush Museum• http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/• PBS The Gold RushPBS The Gold Rush• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/• The Gold RushThe Gold Rush• http://www.jlhs.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Classes/Social_Science/Gold_Rush/California.Gold.Rush.html http://www.jlhs.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Classes/Social_Science/Gold_Rush/California.Gold.Rush.html

12Mrs. Murray's 4th Grade eMINTS STUDENT HANDOUT

The Scoring GuideThe Scoring Guide

CATEGORY CATEGORY 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1

Historical Accuracy Historical Accuracy All information on the All information on the poster, including the poster, including the graphics appeared to graphics appeared to be historically be historically accurate. accurate.

Almost all information on the Almost all information on the poster, including poster, including graphics appeared to graphics appeared to be historically be historically accurate. (1-2 accurate. (1-2 inaccurate items) inaccurate items)

Most of the information on Most of the information on the poster, including the poster, including graphics appeared to graphics appeared to be historically be historically accurate. (3-4 accurate. (3-4 inaccurate items) inaccurate items)

Very little of the information Very little of the information on the poster was on the poster was historically accurate. historically accurate.

Required Elements Required Elements Student included all the Student included all the required information required information on the poster about on the poster about the California Gold the California Gold Rush: WHO, WHAT, Rush: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHEN, and WHERE. WHERE.

Student included most of the Student included most of the required information required information on the poster about on the poster about the California Gold the California Gold Rush: WHO, WHAT, Rush: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE. WHEN, and WHERE. (3 of the 4) (3 of the 4)

Student included some of the Student included some of the required information required information on the poster about on the poster about the California Gold the California Gold Rush: WHO, WHAT, Rush: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHEN, and WHERE. (2 of 4) WHERE. (2 of 4)

Student included very little Student included very little of the required of the required information on the information on the poster about the poster about the California Gold Rush: California Gold Rush: WHO, WHAT, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHEN, and WHERE. (0-1 of 4) WHERE. (0-1 of 4)

Knowledge Gained Knowledge Gained The poster created for The poster created for advertising the advertising the California Gold Rush California Gold Rush contains 3 reasons contains 3 reasons (each supported with (each supported with historical details) for historical details) for taking the route that taking the route that is being advertised.is being advertised.

The poster created for The poster created for advertising the advertising the California Gold Rush California Gold Rush contains 2 reasons contains 2 reasons (each supported with (each supported with historical details) for historical details) for taking the route that is taking the route that is being advertised.being advertised.

The poster created for The poster created for advertising the advertising the California Gold Rush California Gold Rush contains 1 reason contains 1 reason (each supported with (each supported with historical details) for historical details) for taking the route that is taking the route that is being advertised.being advertised.

The poster created for The poster created for advertising the advertising the California Gold Rush California Gold Rush has no reasoning for has no reasoning for choosing the route choosing the route being advertised or being advertised or the reasoning is not the reasoning is not supported with supported with historical details.historical details.

Students will be able to identify key historical facts regarding the California Gold Rush and analyze the advantages and

disadvantages of the routes chosen by the pioneers who traveled to California during the Gold Rush.

Historian: ______________