GRADE 4
Catch Gold Fever! – Create a fantastic Gold Rush Adventure at your school!

STANDARDS: See grid below

Kit must be picked up and dropped off at History Park.
$115 rental fee for one week; $150 for two weeks

Gold panning materials, copies of primary sources and activities in a curriculum resource binder help you create a gold rush program at your school. HSJ provides everything you need to pan for gold and a selection of photographs, maps, diaries and other documents that help tell the story of the California Gold Rush through the eyes and words of those who lived it.
The Kit includes everything your school needs to set up its very own mining camp for fourth-grade classes, and MUCH MORE!

• 12 plastic pans and 2 large plastic tubs with sand for panning
• Gold and precious minerals mix
• A comprehensive collection of activities with all the worksheets and background information to carry them out
• "The Gold Rush" video produced by PBS with teacher’s guide
• Books on gold panning and mining
• Copies of primary source documents from the HSJ archive

Rent the Kit and create a Gold Rush Adventure for all your fourth graders, incorporating the history of the quest for gold; the physical work of the mining camp; and math, science, geography, and art activities to investigate the early days of California statehood.

Table of Contents

• Gold Rush Kit Section Headings
• State Curriculum Standards met by the Gold Rush Adventure Kit
• HSJ Collection Images used in the Kit
• People and Places of the Gold Rush
• Gold Rush Mural Activity

Gold Rush Adventure School Kit Section Headings

State Curriculum Standards met by the Gold Rush Adventure Kit

People and Places of the Gold Rush

Teacher’s Guide

State Standards
History and Social Science

• 4.3 Students explain the economic, social, and political life in California from the establishment of the Bear Flag Republic thought the Mexican-American War, the Gold Rush, and the granting of statehood.
• 4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.

People and Places of the Gold Rush Matching Activity

Directions: Match the letters on the right with the definition of the left. All of these words relate to the Gold Rush in some way. Answers are in Bold.

People and Places of the Gold Rush - Fill in the Blank

Directions: Put the correct term in the spaces provided below. Answer is in bold.
• Sacramento
• Alvin Coffey
• Lotta Crabtree
• Lee Fong Chong
• San José

1. My name is (Lotta Crabtree) and I’m a little girl who made her living performing for miners in the camps.


2. (Sacramento) is the state capital of California today.


3. Many people moved to this town, (San Jose), after the Gold Rush.


4. I’m a Chinese Herbalist who set up shop in the Gold Country; my name is (Lee Chong Fong).


5. I was a slave when I came to California and was able to work my way to freedom; my name is (Alvin Coffey).


Mural Assignment


Teacher’s Guide


State Standards
History and Social Science


• 4.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the physical and human geographic features that define places and regions in California.
• 4.3 Students explain the economic, social, and political life in California from the establishment of the Bear Flag Republic thought the Mexican-American War, the Gold Rush, and the granting of statehood.

Put the pieces of the mural in order to discover information about California and the Gold Rush period. Things found on the mural include and represent. This mural was created by a group of high school students working with History San José on the Voices of Gold exhibition in 1999. The museum asked the students to paint their ideas about the Gold Rush and its impact on the local area.

When was the Gold Rush?

It began in 1849. Gold was found a year earlier in 1848, when John Marshall was building a saw mill for John Sutter on the American River, Coloma.

What do you see?

Students may respond to any of the images. Do not spend time on all images. Use their responses to tell them a bit about the Gold Rush period.

For example,
– Boats, star, sun, moon: People came to California from all over the world to get gold.

How did they come here?
– By land or by sea. Navigated using the stars.

Flags

California was part of the Spanish empire in the New World. Mexico fought a revolutionary war and became independent from Spain in 1821. In 1848 the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago to end the Mexican-American War. The Treaty gave California to the U.S. Gold was found in 1849!
How do you think Mexico felt?

Miner

How do you know it is a miner?
– By the tools - a pick and shovel and the gold flakes painted over that section.

Guide to Images in the Mural

Image Meaning Star Navigation by sea Flower Poppy, the state flower of California Bear From the California flag Sun Sunny California/good weather in California; also a navigation tool Moon and stars Navigation by sea; the natural environment Miner with tools Gold miners; Gold Rush California outline with star Marks the area where gold was discovered; California is on the coast, so people came by sea as well as land Horses Represents peoples’ relationship with animals; oxen, mules, horses used to get to the Gold Rush and to help with work in the mines Indian Represents California Indians, particularly the Ohlone Square Houses Represent the houses of the miners and the rapid development of cities as people came to California seeking gold Rounded Houses Represent the houses of the Ohlone Indians living in this area when gold was discovered. These were made of tule reed that grows along rivers in marshy areas in this area. Ships One of the ways to get to California from other parts of the world Spanish Flag Represents California’s history as part of the Spanish Empire Mexican Flag Represents California’s history as part of the Mexican Republic Buffalo Represent the herds of buffalo people saw as they crossed North America toward California

Make your own drawing of things you think are inspired by the Gold Rush.

Images and Objects from History San José Collections


Image/Object History Tintype of Catherine Hyde Johnson, circa 1855, shown actual size Tintype was an early form of photography. Catherine Hyde Johnson lived in Texas. This tintype belonged to her sister Susan Hyde. The tintype was printed in black and white, and then hand-colored with paint. Chinese writing sample, date unknown By 1870, approximately one-fourth of the miners in California were Chinese. News of the gold discovery spread rapidly throughout China, and California become known as a fabulous land – Gam Saan or "Gold Mountain." Chinese immigrants to the United States were prevented from owning property or becoming citizens. They were also subject to violent attacks and new laws enforced only against them. Letter from John M. Battee to his parents, December 10th, 1854 Before the advent of the telegraph or telephone, letters were the only form of communication between friends and family in different parts of the country. Mail delivery between California and the rest of the United States was slow. But even if a letter was filled with "old news", everyone looked forward to the arrival of word from loved ones. Brooch engraved "Henry Edward Chisholm Ob. June 23rd 1854 in his 22nd Year", 1854 Gold, pearls, enamel, human hair. A lock of hair was enclosed in the brooch as a memory of a loved one who had died. This type of jewelry was very popular in the mid-late 1800’s. (The "ob." in the engraving notes the death date.) Gold Nugget Stick Pin, circa 1855 Worn by "miners" as a sign of success, the pin was made from a gold nugget. Mine Workers with Candles, New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, circa 1880 The caverns in the New Almaden Mine extended over 200 feet below the surface. The miners relied solely on candlelight to guide their work in the darkness. Chinese Dragon Robe, circa 1875 - 1900 Silk with silk embroidery This robe would have been worn for very special occasions. It was made of silk and embroidered by hand. Such ceremonial garments are decorated with symbols to remind the wearer and the viewer of things or ideas important to that ceremony. Handcuffs, circa 1890 Iron Used by early lawmen to subdue criminals. Law and order was not easily kept during the Gold Rush. "Gold Fever" drove men to jump claims, steal goods and supplies, and disregard the lives of their fellows. Mining camps set their own rules of conduct, and those who didn’t follow the rules were jailed or run out of camp.