Across the Plains and Beyond
Unit Nine (19 Days)

What are some highlights from this unit?

Head to the California gold fields for rollicking adventures as you read By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman (comprehension, metaphors) • Write poetry with theme, rhyme, and imagery • Survey the West with the Corps of Topographical Engineers • Vocabulary and spelling (chemistry words, China, Gold Rush, and California words) • Journey by land and sea with miners who will risk all in the hopes of discovering gold • Grab your tools as you learn the techniques and lifestyle of miners, and make Gold Jiggler Nuggets, Hangtown Fry, and Pay Dirt Pudding • Language, Grammar, and Study Skills (using confusing verbs and adverbs correctly, punctuation and capitalization, editing, comparative and superlative adverbs, verb phrases, subjects in imperative and inverted order sentences, almanac and encyclopedia skills, predicate nominatives, personal pronouns, compound personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, reflexive pronouns, intensive pronouns) • With the discovery of gold in California, learn more about gold and the other elements in a study of chemistry (matter, chemistry history, atoms, molecules, mixtures, solutions, compounds, protons, neutrons, electrons, charges, games and experiments, "Where's the Matter," "What's the Matter," "Runaway Bubbles of Gas," states/phases of matter, chemical changes in matter, melting points, cohesion, Periodic Table of Elements – symbols, arrangement, application, Periodic Table of Elements Project, chemical bonds, create a model of a water molecule, acids, bases, alkalis, pH Scale, radioactivity and nuclear power) • Sing folk songs in American history • Create "Panning for Gold" – a Gold Rush learning game, and make clay gold nuggets • Visit boom towns and ghost towns and watch San Francisco's population explosion in Gold Rush days • Design a Boom Town Restaurant Menu with Gold Rush themes and write a "Gold in California!" news story • Write Onomatopoeia Gold Rush Poetry • Learn about the life and presidencies of James Knox Polk and Zachary Taylor and the Elections of 1844 and 1848 • Dig into the historical background, words, and music of "Hail to the Chief" • Meet the authors and poets of the 1840's and learn about their connection to American Romanticism and History • Understand the connection of Chinese-Americans to the Gold Rush and take a spotlight look at their country of origin - the geography, history, economy, government, and culture of China • Discover the rice and tea culture of China, sample Chinese teas and almond cookies, make fried rice, and learn about Chinese food and eating customs • Create a rice mosaic, and build a model of the Great Wall of China • Enjoy the music and art of China – silk-making, religious art, Chinese pagodas, Chinese calligraphy, and make watercolor wall hangings • Celebrate Chinese holiday customs with red squares for Chinese New Year and moon cakes for the Full Moon Festival • Be a travel editor and write an article about Chinese tourist spots • Learn to work wholeheartedly for the Kingdom of God as we wait expectantly for Christ's return • Explore Chinese customs and religion, and missionaries to China • Experience servanthood and love at the Last Supper • Ride with the daring and adventurous Pony Express Riders and learn about the function of this important communication method of the 1800's  • Design a WANTED poster for Pony Express Riders • Read about the Vine and Branches and the key elements for abiding and remaining in Christ • Get a glimpse of California – from Mount Whitney to Death Valley, from the Coast Ranges and the Napa Valley to the Mojave Desert. Tour California Missions, sample sourdough bread and California pizza, and make a model of the Golden Gate Bridge as you study the geography, history, government, economy, and culture of the Golden State. •  Watch as Jesus prepares His followers for His death and promises the Holy Spirit as a Comforter • Sparkle at your Gold Fever Party! Wear bandanas and blue jeans, and munch on Gold Rush Grub like Crispy Golden Nuggets, Gold Nugget Crunch, and Gold-Dusted Cookies while playing Panning for Gold, Miner's Laundry and Clothespin Games, and participating in "Eureka! I Found It!" Nugget Toss, Backpack Challenge, and Sourdough Butter Battle!

Please visit our online store for great values from our selected business partners. Click here to enter.