The discovery of gold in California in 1848 brought many people to California in search of riches. Thousands of Chinese immigrants, lured by the promise of gold and prompted by problems at home, joined others from around the world in the rush for wealth.
You and your teammates have the opportunity to travel back in time to become some of the first Chinese immigrants to arrive in California. You will explore the reasons why Chinese prospectors came to "Gam Saan" (Gold Mountain) and their experiences in California once they arrived. You will then have three days to decide whether you want to travel back in time to be a Chinese prospector in California of the 1850's.
Click here for background information
Grade 4 California History-Social Science Content Standards:
4.4 Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s.
Grade 4 California Reading/ Language Arts Content Standards:
1.2 Create multiple-paragraph compositions:
Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills:
Chronological and Spatial Thinking:
Research, Evidence, and Point of View:
Day One: Introduction to WebQuest, team and role assignments
Day Two: Research on the Internet
Day Three: Finish research and share information with teammates
Day Four: Write composition
Your team consists of four or five members: the Who Member,
the What Member, the How Member, and the Why Member. If you have a fifth member,
s/he will be the Where Member. If there are only four of you, you will work
together to answer theWhere Member's questions. Each team member will print
out his/ her appropriate sheet of information and questions. Team members will
then visit the websites listed on their information/question sheets.
After each team member has answered his/her questions, your team will
gather together to share all the data collected.
Your team will then write a multiple paragraph composition stating and
defending your position on whether you should travel back in time to be Chinese
prospectors in California in the 1850's.
Note: Your teacher will be evaluating your team's composition using this rubric. S/he will also be evaluating how well you work as a group using this rubric. Finally, you will be evaluating each of your team members (including yourself) on teamwork using this rubric.
To accomplish the above task, you will need to follow these instructions:
Meet with your team of four or five and choose your roles: Who Member,
What Member, How Member, Why Member and Where Member. Remember that if you only
have four members, you will work together to answer the Where Member's questions
in addition to taking on your individual roles.
Take a peek at each of your pages listed in the table below. Each page
contains the questions you will be answering as well as links to Internet resources
to help you answer your questions.
| Who Member | What Member |
| Why Member | How Member |
Share your information with your teammates when all of
you have answered your individual questions, and record your findings on this
student sheet.
Would YOU like to be Chinese prospectors in California in the 1850's?
Your team will write a multi-paragraph composition stating your position on
this issue. If you need help on writing your composition, click
here.
Your group will be evaluated by your teacher. You will also be evaluated by your peers.
The following rubrics will be used:
| Teacher Rubric for Composition | Peer Rubric | Teacher Rubric for Group Work |
Whether or not you decided to go back in time to be a Chinese gold prospector in California of the 1850's, you have learned how to use the Internet as a research tool. You have also learned about the California Gold Rush from a different perspective, that of the Chinese immigrant.
Were you surprised at the discriminatory laws that the Chinese gold miners faced? Did the United States enact other discriminatory laws that focused on a group of people simply because of their race? What kinds of laws does the United States have now regarding immigration?
Maybe some day, California will truly be the Gam Saan or Golden Mountain for everyone who arrives in search of a dream. Maybe you can help make it happen.