Gold Rush Day in Picture
Check out my blog on this year's Gold Rush Day!
Below is a full packet of Gold Rush Day activities set up in centers.
Below is a full packet of Gold Rush Day activities set up in centers.
Gold Rush!
This is a favorite unit for kids. You can start with a simulation day to kick things off, or start with the webquest. Either will work!
To download the full instructions for Gold Rush Day- Gold Rush Simulation- click here!
A Journey Back in Time
Each year I have my students investigate the gold rush through a webquest.
The webquest is a project that can span over a month. Students explore the Gold Rush by traveling back in time. The project merges history with narrative writing. Students begin their journey as a resident of Boston in 1848. As they research historical facts, they take a journey to California. At each "check point" they write a journal entry describing how the journey might have been, based on decisions they make along the way. When they finally make it to California, they are able to explore real life challenges faced by the 49ers. The hunt for gold in 1849 wasn't an easy one!
The Gold Rush Journals produced by the students are a great project to display at open house! I always try to time this to align with Gold Rush Day. Students make it to the "diggins" in their journals around the same time we have our Gold Rush Day Simulation. This way, students can incorporate their experiences from Gold Rush Day into their journals. I also have students use their journals to record and calculate gold prices in 1849. They weigh their gold, and calculate their earnings! I make them pay for their food on Gold Rush Day with their earnings as well. :)
The journal and webquest can be done independently, but it is typically best to walk student's through the project one journal as a time.
To download the full instructions for Gold Rush Day- Gold Rush Simulation- click here!
A Journey Back in Time
Each year I have my students investigate the gold rush through a webquest.
The webquest is a project that can span over a month. Students explore the Gold Rush by traveling back in time. The project merges history with narrative writing. Students begin their journey as a resident of Boston in 1848. As they research historical facts, they take a journey to California. At each "check point" they write a journal entry describing how the journey might have been, based on decisions they make along the way. When they finally make it to California, they are able to explore real life challenges faced by the 49ers. The hunt for gold in 1849 wasn't an easy one!
The Gold Rush Journals produced by the students are a great project to display at open house! I always try to time this to align with Gold Rush Day. Students make it to the "diggins" in their journals around the same time we have our Gold Rush Day Simulation. This way, students can incorporate their experiences from Gold Rush Day into their journals. I also have students use their journals to record and calculate gold prices in 1849. They weigh their gold, and calculate their earnings! I make them pay for their food on Gold Rush Day with their earnings as well. :)
The journal and webquest can be done independently, but it is typically best to walk student's through the project one journal as a time.