Living History 4th Grade
The students are evaluated by cooperative group behavior, quality of completing the task, and written self-evaluation, and journal entries where they will use critical thinking skills to compare the past with today. The students receive gold nuggets that they use at the camp store.
This is a year end culminating activity. Over the years we have purchased items for this day. Of course, we need to add items each year to replenish, as well as, increase due to the number of students. We set up stations at the Safeway Beach that students will rotate through. We encourage parent volunteers to run the stations. Students sew their journals in class prior to the day.
The objectives of the program are for students to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of hardships associated with the day to day living during the Gold Rush Era and enhance their understanding of fourth grade social studies with fun, hands-on activities.
Living History Day will enhance the fourth grade study of the Gold Rush Era by integrating visual and performing arts, social studies, math, writing, problem solving, critical thinking, and physical education. It will reinforce cooperative learning skills, listening, and following directions. It will also give students hands on experiences of what they have been studying.They will rotate through stations each of which engages them in an activity during the Gold Rush. They will do a craft or activity and then write in a journal. They will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the hardships during the time. The crafts include: candle-making, corn husk dolls, needlepoint, leather making, and tin-smithing. The activities: toys/games, square dance, bread making, and a camp store.
We meet to plan a unit on the Gold Rush as well as establish clear learning objectives for each student involved in Living History. This day requires all teachers to actively plan and participate to make the day successful for all students.
