Strike It Rich! The California Gold Rush Reading Comprehension

Set off on a gold-rush adventure with this engaging reading comprehension worksheet!
Travel back in time to 1848 and discover the frenzy of the California Gold Rush. Students will explore:

• A Spark Ignites the West: Uncover the serendipitous discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill and the wave of migration it caused.
• The Forty-Niners: Meet the diverse group of people who ventured to California, chasing dreams of fortune.
• Boom and Bust: Analyze the economic impact of the Gold Rush, from bustling cities to the challenges faced by miners.
• A Lasting Legacy: Explore the long-term consequences of the Gold Rush on California and the American West.

Strengthen critical thinking skills with a variety of questions:

• Multiple Choice: Test key factual knowledge.
• Matching: Reinforce key terms and figures.
• Fill-in-the-Blank: Solidify essential details and chronology.
• Short Answer: Encourage analysis, synthesis, and evaluation using a primary source excerpt.

Answer Key included for easy assessment!

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to explain the events that triggered the California Gold Rush.
• Students will be able to describe the experiences of the Forty-Niners, including the challenges and opportunities they faced.
• Students will be able to analyze the economic and social impacts of the Gold Rush on California.
• Students will be able to evaluate the lasting legacy of the Gold Rush on the development of the American West.

Recommended Common Core Standards:

• RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says or when analyzing its content.
• RI.5.2: Determine the central ideas or author's purpose of a text and explain how it is supported by key details.
• RI.5.3: Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a text.
• RI.5.6: Analyze the author's point of view in a text and distinguish it from the narrator's or character's point of view.

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