Today’s Walking Classroom focuses on the Gold Rush in California that began in the mid-1800s. The Gold Rush caused a major population boom in California as people came from all over the country to try and find gold. People were so desperate for gold that they often destroyed the land in their quest to unearth it.
Character Value: Ambition
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RH.6-8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Gold Rush Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Gold Rush Slide Deck
Explains how the elements got their names.
Covers the origins of the California Gold Rush.
Virtually explore the Gold Rush exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California.
Test your knowledge of the California Gold Rush with this quiz from Ducksters Education Site.
Working in groups, create a newspaper detailing current events during the Gold Rush using the free Newspaper Club software and teacher-created lesson plan.
Analyze and interpret the lyrics of the Gold Rush song, “Oh California!” in this activity from the California Museum.
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See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Westward Ho