Home | Lessons & Resources | The Impact of the Gold Rush on Native Americans of California
source investigation
instructional resource
The Impact of the Gold Rush on Native Americans of California
This inquiry lesson provides primary sources, maps, images, and background history to offer teachers and students insight into a little-known but vitally important aspect of one of the most iconic events in American history—the California gold rush. Students will analyze sources to answer the question, Do American actions against California Native Americans during the gold rush meet the United Nations definition of genocide?
Resource Information
grades
8
9
10
11
12
featured nations
Miwok, Nisenan, Pomo, Sinkyone, Wailaki, Wiyot
subjects
Government & Civics, English Language Arts, Geography, History, Social Studies
regions
California, North America
professional development
NK360° and You
Here’s what Emily P., an 11th grade teacher at Encinal Junior/Senior High School in California, had to say:
“This new knowledge transformed the way students thought about the gold rush by talking about the juxtaposition of the way the gold rush is depicted in the textbook and the new knowledge they got from the impacts group.”
“This new knowledge transformed the way students thought about the gold rush by talking about the juxtaposition of the way the gold rush is depicted in the textbook and the new knowledge they got from the impacts group.”
How did you tie this lesson into your curriculum?
I used the resource to extend my Westward Expansion project where students have an aspect of Westward Expansion to research, learn, and teach to the class. Normally, one of my topics is the gold rush, but this year I added a new topic: impacts of the gold rush on Native Americans. It was super successful, and kids learned a lot about the downside of the gold rush in the U.S.
I used the resource to extend my Westward Expansion project where students have an aspect of Westward Expansion to research, learn, and teach to the class. Normally, one of my topics is the gold rush, but this year I added a new topic: impacts of the gold rush on Native Americans. It was super successful, and kids learned a lot about the downside of the gold rush in the U.S.
What did you do with your students?
Students created a Google slide presentation to explore the impacts of the gold rush on California Native Americans.
Students created a Google slide presentation to explore the impacts of the gold rush on California Native Americans.
Teacher Reflection
NK360° was powerful for my students’ learning because they got to look at an event from different perspectives, and I always love to promote that for them.
NK360° was powerful for my students’ learning because they got to look at an event from different perspectives, and I always love to promote that for them.
