This lesson plan teaches 4th grade students about the California Gold Rush and how it transformed California's economy. Students will learn about the types of products produced during the Gold Rush, such as Levi Jeans, and how towns like Sacramento and San Francisco grew. Students will also learn to use latitude and longitude to locate major Gold Rush towns on maps of California. The lesson incorporates activities like panning for gold and identifying important places and travel routes from the Gold Rush era.

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:

2. VIII. Vocabulary Words:
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?

3. Description of the lesson plan.
Students will be learning about the Gold Rush and how it transformed the economy of
California. They will learn about the products produced like Levi Jeans. Students will also learn of
the growth of towns in California. This lesson plan will introduce the coordinate grid system.
Next, students will apply that knowledge to pin point the location of major towns during the
Gold Rush in an atlas, and on a California map. The Students will have the opportunity to pan for
gold in class.
Description of how geography is used in the lesson plan.
Students will be learning of the change of towns in California. How the towns grow, they will see
how the land is different form today. Students will learn how to use the coordinate grid system
to determine the absolute location of places in California. Students will focus on places that
were of major importance during the Gold Rush like travel routes. And what place was most
famous for panning for gold.