This document outlines a 4th grade lesson plan about the California Gold Rush. It introduces students to how the Gold Rush transformed California's economy and the types of products produced and consumed during that time. Students will learn about changes in towns like Sacramento and San Francisco. The lesson will teach students to use latitude and longitude to locate places in California on maps. Students will discuss how California's economy changed during the Gold Rush and identify major towns by their coordinates. They will participate in activities like panning for gold and learning about goods sold during the Gold Rush.

1. Cindy Alvarez
Eva Jacinto
Vanessa Garcia
Ana Perez
Geography 300
01/16/2013
The Gold Rush
I. Subject Area: History And Geography
II. Grade Level: 4th grade
III. Standards: History
4.4 #2 Explain how the Gold Rush transformed the economy of California, including
the types of products produced and consumed, changes in towns (e.g., Sacramento,
San Francisco), and economic conflicts between diverse groups of people.
 SoCal Science Standards
4.1 #1. Explain and use the coordinate grid system of latitude and longitude to
determine the absolute locations of places in California and on Earth.
Time Sequence of lesson: 30 minutes.
IV. Learning Objective: Students will learn how California’s economy changed with the gold
rush and identity what products were consumed. They will be able to discuss the changes in
towns. Also, students will be able to use the coordinate grid system and identify the major
towns during the gold rush.
V. Pre-Assessment: oral questionnaire what do students know about the Gold Rush
and the coordinate grid system.
VI. Materials for lesson:
 Video, rocks, 6 pails, a table, picture, and the power point, California maps,
and Atlas
VII. Guiding Questions:
VIII. Vocabulary Words:

2. 1. Gold
2. Transformed
3. Economy
4. Latitude
5. Longitude
IX. Instructional Strategies:
 First, Ice breaker
 After, video “OH California….”
 We are going to write the standard in the board and then explain it to the
students.
 Then, we are going to explain the vocabulary words definition.
 We will discuss the changes in economy for California during the Gold Rush.
 Next, we will relate our new vocabulary words 3 and 4 with plotting the
exact locations of major towns during the Gold Rush on worksheet.
 Last, we are going to assess the children with orientation on a map.
 Work stations panning for gold and learning about some of the major
products sold during the Gold Rush.
X. Closing/ Reflection: How are our lives influenced by were we are located, how is our
place influenced by how easy or difficult it is to transport goods? Examples for
California how was it affected before and after the Gold Rush?
XI. Application: What are some uses for the coordinate system today?