Students create a display of images that show California's natural resources.
Review John Muir's efforts to preserve California's natural resources in the Yosemite Valley. Explain to students that during the late 1800s he wrote articles and letters to government officials encouraging the preservation of the land, water, plants, and animals. Largely through his efforts, Yosemite became the United States' first national park. You might direct students to the map on page 19 of their textbooks or an atlas to locate Yosemite National Park. Tell students that they will be reading a section of John Muir's journal and learning more about what he saw and felt after seeing Yosemite for the first time.