Going for Gold!
Web Scavenger Hunt
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P_mZXTf0mfSLv4oA9qbYFHJgSfKwML3IuAM5vpI1qWuXaK89cZ5B8xob6DPQ2LGYSpyUU4EI0km-zbWZczKKJp4vVOikcUrbSmxzjomHI8DbLzXBOdxQVTd4_mPx4Q2n_GzXFh_4SpCM/s200/Ca+gold+rush+pic+1.jpg)
Subject Matter: Social Studies
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Lesson Objective:
Learners will demonstrate knowledge of the California Gold Rush and its effects on the settlements, daily life and physical environment of California to write a narrative journal in the perspective of a miner.
Common Core State
Standard:
CCSS. WRIT.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences
or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event
sequences.
Background:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bbqwZr48M2400_ZazPurG5rAcZwZh4DEaoVeBV798hjaEKmrKD09EN6N2915k6EOp77gxb_I9sD-8TsKDNqvYbJGMC_dGldwpq7_SLknj45momEZrscSCrr8rZwE0p5AmqyXEfeW1h1O/s200/gold+rush+miner.gif)
The discovery of gold in the 1848, led to a great migration west to California. Miners, later know as the 49ers travelled far to try their luck at finding gold. Some found gold and others found nothing but struggles. Join the search to learn more about the California Gold Rush below.
Join the 49er miners and search for your golden nuggets of information to answer the questions below.
Essential Question:
What effect did the gold rush have on California’s economy,
people and its settlements?
Questions:
- Who were John Sutter and James Marshall and how do they relate to the discovery of gold?
- How did word spread about the discovery of gold?
- Who moved or immigrated to California because of the discovery of gold?
- What methods of transportation were used to get to California?
- How did the gold rush change the population of San Francisco and why?
- How did the discovery of gold affect the cost of common items?
- How did miners search for gold?
- What is a boomtown and how were they created?
Assessment:
Pretend you are a 49er Miner. Write a narrative journal entry describing your journey to California, your reasons for coming to California and daily life as a gold miner.