GOLD FEVER

Introduction – Task – Process – Resources – Evaluation - Conclusion

Introduction

  • The year is 1851.  You live in Boston, Massachusetts.  Although you belong to a wealthy merchant family and live in a mansion, you are restless and want to explore new places.  At a glittering social event you meet a well-dressed gentleman who has recently arrived by sailing ship from California.  You enter into conversation with him about his adventures in the California gold country.  He tells you that he has made a fortune from gold mining, and he will never have to work again.  You decide right then that you must travel to California to find your own fortune in the gold fields.

Task  

  • You begin to plan your trip to California.  You must decide what equipment and material you need to take with you.  You must choose your clothing with consideration of the weather on the trip and the climate in California where gold is mined.  You must decide on the route you must take to get to California, and the type of  transportation you will use.  Your wealthy father and mother are going to loan you the money to go on your adventure, but they want to know your detailed plans for the trip, and how their money will be spent with  prices for clothing, equipment, travel, and lodging.  They want to know if you will be traveling with companions, what their names are, and what types of weapons you will carry for protection.  They want you to describe  any dangers or diseases you may encounter.  Before they advance you any money they want you to write for them a detailed plan that includes what you need to travel, how you will travel, and how much it will cost.  They want you to write regarding how long you will be gone on your adventure.

Process 

·   STEP 1:  First explore different websites about the Gold Rush.  Find the travel routes from Boston to a specific Gold Rush city in California, so you can determine your type of transportation.

·   STEP 2:  On a separate sheet of paper answer these questions to help you plan your trip.  1.  How many ways can I travel from Boston to California?

2.  After I choose my route, what specific clothing or equipment will I need to complete my trip?

3.     How long will it take  me to make my trip?

4.     How long will I be gone from my family?

5.     Who will I travel with?

6.     What dangers will I face?

7.     Where will I stay on the trip?  How much will lodging cost?

STEP 3:  Find a map so that you can trace your journey.

 STEP 4: Now you are ready to start writing.  Write about your feelings as if they are happening right now.  Write about where you are as you plan your adventure.  Write about what advice your family and friends are giving you.  Write about how you choose your method of transportation.

STEP 5:  Find a classmate to help you edit your work.

STEP 6:  After you have written your story, you are ready to choose pictures for your photo album.  Choose representative pictures from the websites you consulted.  Use at least five pictures.  Put a caption under each picture.

STEP 7:  Create a map page that traces your route of travel.

STEP 8:  Combine all your work into a final packet, and then share your findings with your classmates.

Resources

·   Gold mining museums

·   Books about the Gold Rush

·   Learn about the Gold Rush    http://www.pbs.org/goldrush/

·   Maps    http://www.over-land.com/trgold.html

·   Stories about the Gold Rush

·   Movies about the Gold Rush       

·   Documentaries

·   Empire Mine   http://www.empiremine.org/

·   Libraries

Evaluation

·   You will be evaluated on the following:

Your  story

Your photo album

Your map

Conclusion

·   You have researched what a person needed to go to the California Gold Rush.  You have learned how to travel from the East Coast to West Coast during Gold Rush times.  What you have learned from writing this paper may make you interested in learning about living and mining in Gold Rush towns in California and how that time affected our present day living.