Gold Rush

For the WebQuest Natalie and I will be focusing on the 4th grade standard of the California Gold Rush. 
4.3.2: Compare how and why people traveled to California and the routes they traveled.
The websites that we are looking at right now are:http://www.huntington.org/Education/GoldRush/game/index.htm
http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey.html
http://museumca.org/goldrush/fever01.html
http://www.kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/calgoldrush/calgoldrush.htm
http://www.surfnetkids.com/goldrush.htm
   The students will focus on a specific route that was taken to California by the 49ers.  One of the assignments that the students will be expected to complete for the WebQuest is to write out a dialogue from a 49ers perspective.  Some things included in the perspective are hardships they encountered, decisions that had to be made, reason for coming to California, what tools they used, and what they learned during their experience.
   I think this will be a great assignment for fourth grade students because they will be able to learn new perspectives from people long ago.  They will be able to understand harships that the 49ers had to encounter in order to reach their ultimate goal...to find gold!