
Activating prior knowledge
 Listening and note taking
 Reading comprehension, inference and analysis
 Writing and making direct text references and inferences
 In-context vocabulary
 Primary source (informational text) analysis
 Real world connections and extending knowledge
 Creating predictions
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 Before you begin a new topic it is a good idea to brainstorm what you
already might know about this topic. This is why we do a circle map.
Panning
for gold
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1. claim jumping
2. cradle
3. etiquette
4. hydraulic mining
5. Klondike
6. mother lode
7. panning
8. placer gold
9. prospector
10. rocker
11. sluice box
12. squatter
13. staking a claim
14. technology
15. vein
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Directions: On a piece of lined paper, please write…
Name
Date
Unit 1: Gold Fever
Background notes
As I read, list three things of interest to you from the
passage.
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5
by Nicola Barber
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1 Why did John Sutter want to keep the discovery of gold a secret?
Ο A. John Sutter wanted to test the metal to make sure it was gold.
Ο B. John Sutter wanted to purchase the land where the gold was
found.
Ο C. John Sutter was afraid that James Marshall would receive credit
for the discovery.
Ο D. John Sutter was interested in finding an easier way to remove
the gold from the land.
Analysis 7: Make connections (cause and effect)
within a text
(Reading GLE 2.3.1)
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2 Which idea is best supported by information in the selection?
Ο A. James Marshall’s discovery had life-changing results.
Ο B. John Sutter and James Marshall were overjoyed about their
find.
Ο C. James Marshall’s discovery led to new methods of searching
for gold.
Ο D. John Sutter and James Marshall established new
settlements for gold seekers.
Comprehension 1: Demonstrate understanding of
theme/message/main idea and supporting details
(Reading GLE 2.1.3)
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3 Which sentence summarizes paragraph 2 in the selection?
Ο A. John Sutter settled in California, built Sutter’s Fort and teamed
with James Marshall to construct a sawmill.
Ο B. James Marshall’s discovery sparked a gold rush that caused the
population of California to increase.
Ο C. James Marshall tested the gold by hammering it, putting it in a
campfire and dropping it into water.
Ο D. John Sutter’s men were ordered to search for gold while digging a
riverbed at Sutter’s mill.
Comprehension 2: Summarize with evidence from the
text (Reading GLE 2.1.7)
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4 Why does the author include the quote, “The only machinery necessary in
the new gold mines of California is a stout pair of arms, a shovel, and a tin
pan,” from the New York Daily Tribune?
Ο A. To explain the process of panning for gold
Ο B. To describe where gold miners should search
Ο C. To describe how easy it was for people to find gold
Ο D. To explain why keeping the gold a secret was impossible
Critical Thinking 9: Analyze author’s purpose and
evaluate effectiveness for different audiences (includes fact/opinion;
author’s point of view, tone, and use of persuasive devices)
(Reading GLEs 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 2.4.4)
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6 What is the purpose of the text box at the end of the selection?
Ο A. To explain how easy it was to find gold in California
Ο B. To explain the process used to identify gold in the river
Ο C. To explain the steps used to determine if a metal is gold
Ο D. To explain the main events of the gold rush in California
Analysis 5: Informational/Functional Specific:
Demonstrate understanding of authors’ use of text features
(titles, headings, captions, maps, charts, tables, graphs, pulldown menus, etc.)
(Reading GLE 2.2.2)
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7 Based on the information in the selection, which conclusion can the reader
draw about John Sutter and James Marshall?
Ο A. John Sutter and James Marshall were interested in sharing their
knowledge of panning for gold.
Ο B. John Sutter and James Marshall were unable to discuss their
discovery with each other.
Ο C. John Sutter and James Marshall were proud of helping other
prospectors find gold.
Ο D. John Sutter and James Marshall were unable to enjoy the wealth
others found.
Critical Thinking 11: Extend information beyond text,
(make generalizations beyond the text to a broader idea or concept, or apply
information to other texts and
situations, and support the generalization with details from the text)
(Reading GLEs 2.4.1, 2.4.5)
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8 Which two things does the author contrast in the selection?
Ο A. Panning and digging for gold
Ο B. Sawmills and goldfields
Ο C. Iron pyrite and gold
Ο D. Sand and gravel
Analysis 6: Compare and contrast using elements of the text(s)
(Reading GLEs 2.3.1, 2.4.6)
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9 Why did James Marshall test several pieces of the metal he found?
Ο A. To decide whether to continue building the sawmill
Ο B. To decide whether his men were trustworthy
Ο C. To make sure he had found real gold
Ο D. To make sure the area was safe
Analysis 7: Make connections (cause and effect)
within a text
(Reading GLE 2.3.1)
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5 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Comprehension 3: Make or confirm inferences or
predictions based on the text
(Reading GLE 2.1.5)
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Grade
2
Explanation
A 2-point response makes a reasonable inference about people
who search for gold and provides text-based information to
support the inference.
Example: People who search for gold need to be willing to take
risks. People traveled from all over the world to try to find gold.
1
A 1-point response makes a reasonable inference about people
who search for gold
OR
Provides text-based information that would support a reasonable
inference.
Luckily for you, NYS-given exams do not mark off points for spelling,
punctuation, or grammar mistakes unless your response is illegible.
However, your teachers will. Make sure to proofread your work before
you turn in your test.
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Reasonable inferences may include, but are not limited to:
People have to work hard to find gold.
People who search for gold are willing to take risks.
People who search for gold didn’t take good care of the land where they found it.
Not everyone who finds gold becomes rich.
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Text-based information may include, but are not limited to:
A. Marshall’s discovery sparked an era of gold madness
B. Ordinary people go to the goldfields and make a claim
C. They flocked from all over the world / People came to California from all over
America
D. People were lured by the prospect of “getting rich quick”
E. Marshall and his partner, John Sutter, were not entirely happy about their
amazing find / Neither was overjoyed about the find
F. Sutter didn’t own the land on which the sawmill was built / He knew the reports
of gold would probably bring hordes of treasure seekers to the area
G. Two men decided to keep their find a secret
H. Sutter would try to secure ownership of the land
I. But any hopes of secrecy soon faded / Word leaked out
J. Strangers began to pour into the area
K. There was gold for everyone—(shopkeepers, farmers, soldiers, sailors, professors,
or judges)
L. The only machinery necessary is a stout pair of arms / a shovel / a tin pan
M. The population of California had risen by more than 89,000, and still people
kept coming
N. They should have become rich / Sutter died a poor man / Marshall turned to
drink and died a pauper
O. Sutter’s land was overrun by prospectors and his estate was ruined
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P. Panning was a long and back-breaking work
5 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
2 make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
If
you search for gold it is hard but worth it. Be
___________________________________________________________________
ready
because everyone will come from all over
___________________________________________________________________
the
world because you can get rich fast. By just
___________________________________________________________________
a___________________________________________________________________
shovel and a pan and strong arms. Marshall and
Sutter
didn’t tell anyone because they were
___________________________________________________________________
afraid
people would find out and be all over their
___________________________________________________________________
property
and ruin their stuff.
___________________________________________________________________
This response provides an
___________________________________________________________________
inference about people who
Inference: If you search for gold it is hard but worth it.
search for gold and supports
C.__________________________________________________________________
…everyone will come from all over the world…
the inference with text-based
D. …you can get rich fast.
details from the selection.
L. By just a shovel and a pan and strong arms.
G. Marshall and Sutter didn’t tell anyone…
F. …they were afraid people would find out and be all over their property…
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50 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
___________________________________________________________________
That it would be a hard, slow process. It will
___________________________________________________________________
not be easy and it is very dangerous looking
___________________________________________________________________
for gold in mines.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
This
response does not provide an inference about people who search for gold
__________________________________________________________________
and does not support the inference with text-based details from the selection.
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51 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
People who search for gold have a 50/50
___________________________________________________________________
chance of finding it, but not if theres that
___________________________________________________________________
many people. Because in the story the two
___________________________________________________________________
men, James Marshall and John Sutter, died
___________________________________________________________________
Poor, and that means that not everyone gets
___________________________________________________________________
gold that looks for it.
___________________________________________________________________
This response provides an inference about people
___________________________________________________________________
who search for gold and uses text-based details from
___________________________________________________________________
the selection. However, the selected details do not
support
theainference
thatofis finding
being made.
Inference:
People who search for
gold have
50/50 chance
it…
__________________________________________________________________
P. … James Marshall … died poor.
P. … John Sutter … died poor.
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50 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
Mining for gold was the way that changed
___________________________________________________________________
life. It was easy for people to find it.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
This
response does not provide an inference about people who search for gold
__________________________________________________________________
and does not support the inference with text-based details from the selection.
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5 Based on the information in the selection, what inference can the reader
1 make about people who search for gold? Include information from the
selection in your inference.
Getting gold should have made them rich
___________________________________________________________________
guys but instead everyone – shopkeepers,
___________________________________________________________________
farmers, soldiers, sailors, professors, and
___________________________________________________________________
judges came and took all the gold. They died
___________________________________________________________________
poor and broke after their land was ruined.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
This response does not
___________________________________________________________________
provide an inference but
provides text-based details
___________________________________________________________________
from the selection.
__________________________________________________________________
N. Getting gold should have made them rich guys
K. …everyone-shopkeepers, farmers, soldiers, sailors, professors,
and judges came and took all the gold.
P. They died poor and broke…
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O. … their land was ruined.
 QUIZLET link: http://quizlet.com/_8kri5
claim jumping
cradle
etiquette
hydraulic mining
Klondike
mother lode
panning
placer gold
prospector
rocker
sluice box
squatter
staking a claim
technology
vein
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 Document 1
Daniel B. Woods, Sixteen Months at the Gold Diggings, 1851
 Document 2
Letter from Lucy Stoddard Wakefield to “Lucius And
Rebecca,” Sept. 18, 1851
 Document 3
California lettersheet, “Miners Coat of Arms”
 Document 4
California lettersheet, “Hutchings’ California Scenes—
Methods of Mining”
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 Document 5
“Suspension Flume Across Brandy-Gulch” and
“Mining by Hydraulic Power” color lithographs in
Ernest Seyd, California and its Resources: A Work
for the Merchant, the Capitalist, and the Emigrant
(London, England, 1858)
 Document 6
Lettersheet, published by Britton & Rey, “The
Mining Business in Four Pictures”
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Sixteen Months at the Gold Diggings
Daniel B. Woods, 1851
Questions to Consider:
1. What does Daniel Woods mean when he says
that the miners work “not for gold, but for
bread”?
2. Why are cheerful words never heard,
according to this account?
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Letter from Lucy Stoddard Wakefield to
“Lucius and Rebecca,”
Sept. 18–25, 1851
Questions to Consider
1. What is Lucy Stoddard Wakefield’s occupation?
2. Why can’t she write letters more often?
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Questions to
Consider
1. What objects are
depicted in this
lithograph?
2. Why do you think
the publisher called
this lithograph
“Miners Coat of
Arms”?
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Questions to
Consider
1. Which methods of
mining required the
least technology?
2. Which methods of
mining required the
most technology?
3. What were the
effects of mining on
the environment?
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Question to Consider
1. Which method of mining is
depicted here?
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Question
to
Consider
1. What
story do
these four
images
tell?
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 Popular culture : Discovery Channel’s GOLD RUSH
 Where else do you see the desire for gold today?
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35
Front:
Back:
Create a poster that depicts the
importance of gold to our society
today.
Answer these questions:
1. Why do you think people risk
so much to search for gold?
2. Do you think that gold will
always be valuable in our
society? Why?
Name
Date
Period
Write down one thing that we did
that you liked best about this
unit.
Write down one thing that you
wish you could have changed
about what we did.
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Conrad Reed found a 17-pound lump of gold on his father’s North
Carolina farm in 1799, the first documented discovery of gold in the
United States. They used the rock as a doorstop for three years before a
local jeweler identified it.
Reed’s father sold it to the jeweler for $3.50, less than one-thousandth
of its true value. Eventually Reed caught on—the lump would be worth
more than $100,000 today—and started the nation’s first commercial
gold mine.
Write a short paragraph or story about what you would do if you found a
mother lode of gold on your property?
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