Fall 2013 Welcome

Welcome to the Fall 2013 

History Detective Blog

The topics we will cover this semester are:

1. The Oregon Trail     September 6

2. Underground Railroad/Harriet Tubman   Sept. 20

3.  Life of Abraham Lincoln    October 4

4.  The Civil War    October 18

5.  Immigration/Statue of Liberty    November 1

6.  Panama Canal     November 22

7.  Theodore Roosevelt    December 9

There is no text for this year.  I would recommend checking out books from the library to read aloud or for the child to read independently.  Given the popularity of these topics the options are extensive!  .  It's going to be a fun semester!

The Gold Rush

Watch this movie on the Gold Rush to get the answers to your homework. Many men traveled out to California to find gold. They wanted to be rich so bad that they would take the long journey.These men were said to have "Gold Fever", they didn't have a fever, they were just crazy to find gold. Many of these men left for the Gold rush in 1849 to California. They were called the 49ers.




More information on the California Gold Rush

Searching for Gold

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49'er and Mule (Source: Library of Congress) In the early days of 1848 and 1849, it was not uncommon for a miner to dig $2000 of gold a day. But the average miner might have been lucky to find $10 per day. As time went on the easy gold was all found. Although some made it rich, most of the others were lucky if they made enough to eat. After 1852 most of the surface gold was mined, panning for gold was no longer profitable. This picture shows a 49er with his mule and supplies. Thousands of miners died on the journey or in the diggings. Many died from disease, or from accidents such as drowning in a river.

Camping and Housing

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Miners Camping (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners lived in tents and cooked their food over an open fire. Meals were usually beans, bacon or local game cooked over an open fire. Most camps and mining towns were canvas tents or wooden buildings. Fires were very common. Many camps and towns were completely destroyed by fire. Some several times. Heavy rain and snow during the winter months made for very difficult living and mining conditions. Most miners spent the winter in San Francisco or some mining town. Sickness and colds were common from sleeping on cold, damp ground. The food was not very nutritious resulting in generally poor health. Scurvy was common from lack of fruits and vegetables. Sanitation was poor and miners seldom bathed or washed their clothes.

Family and Friends

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Miners Camp in the Evening (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners came by themselves, leaving their families at home. Many young miners suffered from home sickness from being alone. This picture shows a group of travelers setting up camp.Some families did make the trip to California. Many miners formed friendships and communities with other travelers. Card games, gambling and betting were common ways to pass the time.

Click on this link to play a Gold Rush game

http://www.huntington.org/Education/GoldRush/game/index.htm

Trail Of Tears Short Documentary

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

The Trail of Tears was a sad part of American history.  It began with the Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson.  It stated that the United States would pay the Native Americans for their land.  The majority of Native Americans did not want to leave their land.  Five Native American tribes were forced to leave their land and move west.  These tribes were the Creeks, Choctaws, Seminoles, Chickasaws and the Cherokee.  They were forced to travel 800 miles by foot to the west.  8000 Cherokee Indians died.




Watch this video to learn about the details of how the Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their land.

http://youtu.be/xwBXOxQqkGc

 

Extra Credit Options:
1. Color the American Tragedies map and/or the Cherokee Indian
2. Learn the 11 Native American Sign Language Words
3.  Write a paragraph about one of the 5 major tribes that were forced to leave their land.
4.  Write a paragraph describing the conditions and details of the Trail of Tears.
5.  Make a Native American drum or vest and bring it to co-op for the Native American Pow-Wow

Here are the kids sharing their extra credit reports and displaying their drawings of an invention.  We have some creative kids!!!

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

To find out how the industrial revolution began, watch this video.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LbAOseDs3KY#t=0s

Why did children work during the industrial revolution?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U2M9i1Wy6IU

Who was Eli Whitney?  What was the cotton gin?  Click on this link to learn more.

http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/cottonGin.html









EXTRA CREDIT OPTIONS

1. BRING A PICTURE OF AN INVENTION AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE HOW IT AIDED THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

2. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT CHILD LABOR

3.  FIND DIRECTIONS ONLINE AND MAKE A COTTON GIN.  BRING IT TO CO-OP AND SHOW THE CLASS HOW IT WORKS

4.  ASK YOUR MOM FOR A LIST OF JOBS TO DO AROUND THE HOUSE.  COME TO CO-OP WITH A LIST OF THE JOBS YOU DID IN ONE DAY, HOW LONG YOU WORKED, AND HOW YOU FELT AFTERWARD.

 Having some fun in history.  The kids acting out the King of England taxing the colonists.  Also the re-enactment of the Lexington-Concord Battle.  Some of the girls played the role of Molly Pitcher.

 

  

Lewis and Clark

LEWIS AND CLARK

This is Captain Meriwether Lewis

This is Captain William Clark

CLICK THIS LINK TO WATCH A MOVIE ABOUT LEWIS AND CLARK.

http://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/free-online-movies.php?movie=lewis%20and%20clark

This is Sacagawea , she was an Indian Woman that helped Lewis and Clark on thier expedition. She carried her son in a cradle board or wrapped up snug in her shawl on her back through most of the journey.

One day , Sacagawea and her husband were steering a boat through choppy waters when a sudden wind tripped it sideways. Her husband lost his wits and dropped the rubber and the boat filled with water. Sacagawea stayed calm and rescued all the captain's important journals, gunpowder, medicines and scientific instruments. If she hadn't saved these supplies the expedition would not have continued. She was a brave woman!

MORE FUN WITH LEWIS AND CLARK

 CLICK HERE TO GO ON AN EXPEDITION  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/

EXTRA CREDIT
1. CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF THE ANIMALS DISCOVERED ON THE EXPEDITION.  PICK 10 AND LIST THEM OR BRING IN A PICTURE OF THEM.
http://mrnussbaum.com/lewis-clark/discoveries/

2. DRAW A MAP OF YOUR HOUSE.  MAKE IT DETAILED JUST LIKE LEWIS AND CLARK.

3. RESEARCH WHAT PLANTS THEY DISCOVERED.  DRAW A PICTURE OF 3.

4. COLOR THE MAP AND/OR THE PICTURE OF SACAGAWEA