Possible Learning Club Project Tasks

Learning Club Tasks

     1.  Historical Diary:  You  and your group will pick someone from the Gold Rush era to research and create a 'diary entry' written in 1st person as if you were that person.
     
     2.  Skit:  You and your group members will research  historical events from the era and write a mini play to show what you learned.

     3.  Newscast:  You and your group members will pick an effect of the Gold Rush era to research and report as a news segment.

     4.  Commercial:  You and your group members will research the services or goods that were successful from the Gold Rush and create a commercial.

     5.  Develop a Mining Tool:  You and your group members will become experts on the methods that were used to extract gold from the earth and engineer a device that would have helped the miners.  Then you will make an advertisement to sell the tool.

     6.  Write a Song:  You and your group members will research the problems that people faced during this era and create a song about them.
       

     7.   Court:  You and your group members will research the Gold Rush era learning about which people were not treated fairly and why they were prejudged.  Then you will  create a "Courtroom" presentation.

     8.    Free Choice:  You and your group members will research the Gold Rush era and create an alternative presentation.

       

Gold Rush Expert Information

Become an Expert                                      

First Spanish mission 1769

Mexican War of Independence

                                                1810-1821

Mexican Land Grants:  Pueblos

Mexican American War

                                      1846-1848

Gold Discovered January 24, 1848

California Becomes 31st State 

                                  September 9, 1850

                                                  

Objective:  Learners will demonstrate the ability to explain how the gold rush transformed the economy of California.

Background Information: In 1849 James Marshall discovered gold in Coloma Ca. When word spread that there was gold in California a rush of people entered the area to capitalize on the availability of the rare mineral. People flooded the Sacramento valley and neighboring foothills in search of wealth. The impact of an enormous migration was felt through many communities and vast groups of people. The gold rush also changed many of California’s geographic features and impacted future Californians in terms of the development of cities and transportation.

Resourceful Websites: 

http://museumca.org/goldrush/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/ 
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/calgoldrush/calgoldrush.htm
http://ceres.ca.gov/ceres/calweb/geology/goldrush.html
http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/

http://youtu.be/89I9QkSJbR4

Process:  You will become experts on the California Gold Rush.  You will locate, read and evaluate information from a variety of sources and answer the following questions:

Questions to answer to become an expert:

                       Essential Question:  How did the Gold Rush of the 1850’s impact California?

         1.  When was gold first discovered in California?
         2.  Who was responsible for discovering gold in California?
         3.  Where was gold first discovered in California?
         4.  About how many people traveled to California during the Gold Rush?
         5.  What were the methods of transportation to California during this era?
         6.  What was life like as a miner?
         7.  What were some of the environmental impacts that the Gold Rush caused?
         8.  How were women and immigrants treated during this era?
         9.  What is one famous person who "struck it rich" from offering a service to the miners and                                           what did that person do to become rich?
        10.  How did the economy change in California as a result of the Gold Rush?