Treasure Hunters- Gold Rush

Focus: The Gold Rush of California

Exploration Table: The children learned the Chinese symbol for gold. They painted with water colors pictures of Chinese workers and American miners panning for gold.
Literature: Gold Fever! Tales From The California Gold Rush by Rosalyn Schanzer, Gold Fever California's Gold Rush - a Close Up Guide by Oakland Museum Of California, and Chang's Paper Pony by Eleanor Coerr
Discussion: How people came from all over the world seeking their fortune. Why did the cost for goods and supplies go up and who benefited. Also how did one go about finding the gold.
Project: The children sewed burlap sacks ( including buttons!)to hold their gold.
Activity: We panned for gold using tin pans and buckets. The children really enjoyed finding those nuggets! ( gold painted rocks)

Music: We continued working on our surprise song

Questions to Ask: What was the Gold Rush? Who came for it? What were some ways they got it out of the ground?