It is very difficult to plan a unit that will work for any age group. You will have to adjust this unit to suit the ages of your children. You will also need to review the links I've listed to select the ones that will suit your curriculum and will be appropriate for the ages and maturity of your children.
On this page, I will give you a list of suggested connections you can use in putting together thematic units that cover a great deal of material. I was rather surprised, as I researched, to realize just how many other topics fit into this subject, and I'm sure, as you prepare, that you will find others you'd like to cover.
I created this unit by taking the basic information from a history textbook. That gave me only a few sentences. I then went to my favorite search engine and typed in gold rush. As I found pages, I added them to my favorites. As I read, I made notes whenever I saw an issue that could be used in a side lesson. I began writing the material from the sites I found. I chose a question and answer format because it was easy to work with. As I typed, I kept lists of sites for each question and added them to my curriculum. I then selected vocabulary words, created questions and thought up projects.
These are the connections I came up with, and an explanation of how they fit into the curriculum:
1. The gold rush: This is pretty self-explanatory. It's the history part of your unit, and the links I've added will give your students a much deeper understanding of the event.
2. California history This one is pretty obvious too. It helps to put all these events into perspective. It's more important if you live there.
3. Environmental issues. This can be your science, although there are several good science possibilities in this unit. The gold rush was very hard on the environment, especially when hydraulic mining began. I have a few links on this subject, and you can build your own unit to supplement this. Water purity is one area of importance here. This falls under environmental science.
4. Gold: Learning about gold can be pretty interesting. Learn its chemical properties, and how it is mined and used. This can lead off a study of rocks and perhaps a hobby of rock collecting. This can cover a physical science requirement.
5. Other gold rushes: Alaska's gold rush is well-known, but there were other gold rushes throughout the world. I have links for Alaska and Australia. You can have your children read about other rushes and compare and contrast them. If you want to study other areas of the world, this is your trail.
6.Mormon Battalion and Mormon pioneers:Mormons were all through this gold rush. The pioneers had been en route to Utah to escape persecution and extermination orders, when they were asked to provide soldiers for the Mexican War. Some didn't want to, because the government had refused to protect them, and they were unable to see why a government which had ordered their deaths now should receive their help. For various reasons, the church leaders asked them to go. Many of the men volunteered. After they were released from duty-in California-some of them stayed on to work. Some of them were working at Sutter's Mill when the gold was discovered. In fact, it has been suggested there would have been no discovery if they had not been there, because Sutter had been unable to find the staff for a mill before they came.
7. Plains Indians. What these gold rushers did to the Native Americans is awful. It's a good time to talk about the people who were here first.
8. Chinese The Chinese were among the first to arrive after the discovery of gold. Their story is not pleasant either.
9. Immigration You can't cover the history of our country without discussing immigration. California soon became the most diverse state in the country, because of the gold rush, and it is still having trouble. This subject can make a fascinating side-topic.
10. Mexican War: This is how we got California. If you haven't covered it already, give it a quick introduction.
11.Malaria and Cholera You don't hear much about the old pioneer diseases any more, but they are still around. (We battled whooping cough this year.) Learn more about these diseases, learn about vaccinations, learn about illnesses and health in general. This falls under science again, in the health catagory.
12. Alcohol and alcoholism. The gold rushers were young, and many were away from home for the first time. Alcohol became a serious problem. Another health topic, and one that must be covered.
13. Gambling Another bad habit that became a serious problem in the gold rush. I have some links about the growing problem of youth gambling.
14. Probability: As long as you're discussing gambling, teach probability. This is math, and it will help your kids lose any hidden desire to gamble.
The next section gives you the basic text. This is only an introduction, and it is assumed that if you want more, you will follow the links and find books. You can print this off and give it to your children to read. Unlike my world history units, this is child ready. It is aimed at about fifth grade, but some of the vocabulary is challenging. I will have a page of vocabulary words you can use. The following section offers the links for you to study. Then I will show you how to put it all together. Finally, I will include the actual plan I will be using for my sixth and seventh grader.
GOLD RUSH UNIT:
1.
The basic text: An overview
2. Gold rush links links to other sites on the rush and related subjects
3. Gold rush unit vocabulary with definitions
4. The clickable web-focused lesson I will be using with my own children.
5. The extras-questions to discuss, project ideas, treasure hunts and mapwork.
6. A short text on the Mormon Battalion
7. Review: For a Speck of Gold. This is a children's novel that can be used to accompany your unit study.
