Dive into the excitement of the Gold Rush with a three-phase, interactive experience that brings history and science to life.
What’s Covered?
- Mining for Gold: Students will pan for gold while learning the science behind the process, gaining insight into how miners extracted valuable resources.
- Gold Hunt: They’ll embark on a thrilling hunt for gold rocks hidden throughout the camp, discovering how early miners faced unpredictable outcomes, with some striking “motherloads” and others finding little.
- Western Town Visit: In the final phase, students will trade their gold at the “bank” for camp dollars and spend their earnings in a fun Western-themed shops.
Educational Standards
Applicable Standards:
- SS 4.3: Students explain the economic, social, and political life in California from the establishment of the Bear Flag Republic through the Mexican-American War, the Gold Rush, and the granting of statehood.
- 4.3.2: Compare how and why people traveled to California and the routes they traveled (e.g., James Beckwourth, John Bidwell, John C. Fremont, Pio Pico).