Lesson Structure

This lesson is one lesson of a whole Gold Rush unit. It is from the week of learning about the routes taken to get to the Gold Rush. Here is the break down of the lesson.

Students- In Class (12:50-1:00)
Prior to Computer lab students will watch a video about the overland trail and the difficulties on it. This video was a report done by a student. While watching the video, students must write down 3 terms that they heard that they want to research more about.



Students- Computer Lab time (Tuesdays 1-1:45)
All students computers have 5th Edition Oregon Trail Game downloaded (Oregon Trail 5th Edition- Amazon).
Students will be given rules before they start to play. They must create a whole family and save after each day. They will have 3 Computer time classes to complete their journey. They are not allowed to reload if something happens to their characters.

After Computer lab, students will write at least on paragraph of what happened to their wagon train, how far they got and what they are expecting for the rest of the journey (they should note their supplies and how they will be replenishing their supplies).

In Class (1:45-2:30)
Students begin their Miner Diary project and podcast. In this project students will be grouped in groups of 4-5 students and are to be considered a wagon. They will have 15 minutes to discuss their first journal entry. Students are to make up their Pioneer name and write it on their journal. The students will be writing answers to the following questions:

Journal Entry 1- Leaving for California
1) Which Route did you choose to go to California
2) Where did you start from?
3) When did you start your journey?
4) Did you leave your family or has your family travelled with you?
5) What hardships are you worried about before you begin your journey?

Writing will be for 20 minutes, students will then prepare for their podcasts. Students will have 4 journal entries total over a 3 week process ( to hear the most recent classes podcasts you can hear them here: Ms. Taylor's 4th Grade Podcasts)

Rules for a Podcast:
1. Each student will say their miner name and one part of the Journal Entry
2. Students must practice what they are going to say
3. Students should also practice fluency in the group and have nice transitions.

Project Menu
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