Students conduct searches of university libraries for newspapers of the Gold Rush period. Students create their own audio recordings incorporating the information found in the newspapers. Older students use their audio tapes to teach the history of the Gold Rush to younger children. Complete your unit study by having a Frontier Days celebration at school. Students create a celebration that imitates the characteristics of frontier celebrations.
Students create original music, dance, and art for the festival.
Students write and produce a play about the Gold Rush. Based on the type of activities created by the students. Be sure to have a variety of examples of frontier music. Use portfolio evaluation to assess student products. Given a short historical selection, students are able to write information summaries.