Gold Rush

Summary:

Students travel back to the California Gold Rush and become prospectors hoping to find gold. Working within material constraints, students must design and build a mining tool capable of extracting "gold" from a mining site. Students will test, improve, and redesign their tools while learning about the challenges faced by Gold Rush miners.

Standards:

[1.H.1.1] Explain how people lived in the past.

[4.H.1.4] Analyze the effects of major historical events on people.

Supplies:

• Craft sticks

• Pipe cleaners

• String

• Straws

• Clothespins

• Plastic spoons

• Tape

• Construction paper

Additional Materials:

Flyer

Design Sheets

Lesson Slides