Resources Gold Rush Starter Sheet. Gold Rush Fact File. Source sheet

Learning Outcomes (What I’m looking for...) Learning Objective The Californian Gold Rush Learning Outcomes (What I’m looking for...) To be able to identify why the miners moved West and support some points with examples (C/D) To be able to explain why the miners moved West and give specific points with examples (B) To be able to evaluate why the miners moved West giving specific points using detailed examples. (A-A*) Learning Objective (We are Learning to ...) LO: To examine the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. PLTS: creative thinker: ask questions and challenge assumptions Starter: Fill in the starter sheet on your desk. CHALLENGE: How ‘useful’ is this source…

Why is this lesson relevant to me? The journey West was a difficult and dangerous one. In the exam you will need to explain what factors caused people to move across the Plains. PLTS: Creative thinker: ask questions and challenge assumptions

You have a fact file on the Gold Rush in the late 1840s. Pretend you are living in Eastern American in the 1840s, you are unemployed and have very little money. You decide to move to California to look for gold, and travel over land. You reach California and start mining for gold. However, luck is not your lady tonight and you are having difficulty finding gold. Write 3 diary entries. Include The day before you leave. Include in this the reasons you are leaving and moving to California (both push and pull factors). Focus on EXPLAINING these reasons. A day whilst you are on your journey. Include what hazards you would face and why you chose to travel across the plains. Again focus on EXPLAINING. A month after you have arrived at the Californian mines. Explain what life is like for a miner. What kind of activities are you involved in? CHALLENGE: How is a diary source different to a song or a poem? Can you write a short poem on your experience?

My Western Romance…. I came here, for the gold, To make money, before I get old, I went 2000 miles, for the chance, For gold and a woman, a Western Romance The journey was hard, but I survived, I avoided cholera, or I would’ve died When I got here, I thought my dreams I would find, And the economic depression, I would leave behind. But now I just sift, I sift with my pan, Looking for a glint of yellow, as hard as I can. But it doesn’t come, and I just go back, To the blankets, that make up my shack. Then I drink, the night away, And to get a woman, I have to pay. But I’ll stay, I’ll stay for that chance, To complete, my western romance!

Review: Use your traffic light cards to see what stage you are at. Use your traffic light cards to show how well your are understanding the LO. LO: To examine the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I sort of understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I do not understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question.

Task three: Marking samples Make sure you use your collaborative muscle and work with your learning buddies to do this. Look at the mark scheme that has been given to you. Use the mark the sample question. Remember the learning objective is to mark and draw out experiences from the marking that you are doing. How will you apply the knowledge that you get marking to answering the questions yourself. R points will be given for collaboration and getting lost in your work

Review: Use your traffic light cards to see what stage you are at. Use your traffic light cards to show how well your are understanding the LO. LO: To examine the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I sort of understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question. I do not understand the reasons why the Californian Gold Rush caused people to move West and apply this to an exam based question.

Lets review what we have learnt so far! The ‘Gold Rush’ was just an empty dream for most Westerners. How far do you agree? Explain your answer. Explain why people moved to California from the East? What questions would you like to ask a settler moving West? What advice would you give him before he sets off? What is a push factor for the miners moving West? Tell me a problem faced by miners going West?