Imagine you are transported back to 1849. In this adventure, you will choose the life of someone during this time to study and transform yourself into them. You will learn about the challenges, the risks, the day to day life, the fear of the unknown, the joys, and sorrows of choosing this life. Why would someone give up everything to go to CA to start a new life? If you could change anything about that time what would it be? What would you do differently? How was it for minorities? What can we do today to preserve the past? What impact did the Gold Rush have on the environment? What makes people take risks?
The Gold Rush is part of CA history that the students know contributed to the development and population of CA. Students will learn just how much was at stake with people choosing to come to CA and gamble on finding a fortune and why they chose to do so. The Gold Rush not only had an impact on population and settling of new and more people to CA, but also had impacts on the environment.
In the classroom, students will break into mining companies or stay as an individual. They need to name their mining company before staking their claim. Before leaving for the fields, they will purchase materials to mine with.
Additionally, students will decide what route to take to get to CA from New England. Depending on their choice, they will be staggered by 30-second increments. Spread around the field are butterscotch candies, lollipops, and coins (gold). After the time ends, we gather back and discuss “GOING BUST”. After this activity, students will have an opportunity to actually mine for gold using pans.
About my class
Imagine you are transported back to 1849. In this adventure, you will choose the life of someone during this time to study and transform yourself into them. You will learn about the challenges, the risks, the day to day life, the fear of the unknown, the joys, and sorrows of choosing this life. Why would someone give up everything to go to CA to start a new life? If you could change anything about that time what would it be? What would you do differently? How was it for minorities? What can we do today to preserve the past? What impact did the Gold Rush have on the environment? What makes people take risks?
The Gold Rush is part of CA history that the students know contributed to the development and population of CA. Students will learn just how much was at stake with people choosing to come to CA and gamble on finding a fortune and why they chose to do so. The Gold Rush not only had an impact on population and settling of new and more people to CA, but also had impacts on the environment.
In the classroom, students will break into mining companies or stay as an individual. They need to name their mining company before staking their claim. Before leaving for the fields, they will purchase materials to mine with.
Additionally, students will decide what route to take to get to CA from New England. Depending on their choice, they will be staggered by 30-second increments. Spread around the field are butterscotch candies, lollipops, and coins (gold). After the time ends, we gather back and discuss “GOING BUST”. After this activity, students will have an opportunity to actually mine for gold using pans.