I used http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm *(Teacher Tap) as the source of my evaluation criteria for these websites. The criteria are:
Authority
Objectivity
Authenticity
Reliability
Timeliness
Relevance
Efficiency
I. Valuable Internet Resources for use in the Westward Expansion Unit
A. The Gold Rush: An American Experience
This is a PBS site. There are interactive features for students as well as information sources (people, events, map, and a timeline). There are lesson plans for teachers in the areas of history, economics, geography, and civics.
B. The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco
A wealth of primary sources related to the California Gold Rush. Contains eye witness accounts, diary entries, lithographs, and newspaper articles. Some examples include:
“Discovery of Gold in California,” by Gen. John A. Sutter – 1848
Capt. Sutter Describes the Early Discovery of Gold – 1848
California Gold Rush Chronology 1846 - 1849
Excerpts from John Sutter's Diaries 1838-1848
Eyewitness to the Gold Discovery, by James S. Brown – 1848
“A Rush to the Gold Washings,” from the California Star – 1848
Thomas O. Larkin Writes of the Gold Discovery – 1848
Military Governor Mason’s Report on the Discovery of Gold – 1848
San Francisco During the Gold Rush Era
History of San Francisco Gold Rush-era Street Names, by Henry C. Carlisle
From the Diary of Alvin Coffey, African American 49er – 1849
Dramatic Impact of the Gold Discovery, by Theodore H. Hittell
“Discovery of California Gold as Viewed in New York and London,” by Dean Albertson
Gold Rush-Era Daguerreotypes from the Oakland Museum
Miner’s Ten Commandments – 1849
Commandments from a Miner’s Wife – 1849
Gold Hunter’s Farewell to his Wife – 1849
Gold Rush Stories from Pioneer Women
California Gold Rush Chronology 1850 - 1851
14 Lithographic Views of the California Gold Rush 1850-1857 in PowerPoint (900 Kb)
California Gold Rush Chronology 1852 - 1854
The Miner’s Song – 1857
First Mining Journal of the Pacific Coast – 1860
A Gold Rush Poem – 1864
Gold Mining Terms and Procedures, by Charles B. Turrill — 1876
C. Transportation - Steamboats
A wealth of information on steamboats including an interactive steamboat model, how steamboats work, and steamboat videos.
D. The Transcontinental Railroad
Outstanding PowerPoint presentation that details the history of the transcontinental railroad as well as the impact of the this technological advancement.
E. The Telegraph
This PowerPoint presentation clearly shows how the telegraph works, what the historical impact of the telgraph is, and explains the connection between time zones and the telegraph.
F. Start Your Own Gold Rush Town
With so many fortune seekers arriving every day, it's time to start a Gold Rush town. The step-by-step guide will help students to give their town a name, make some town laws, and decorate their new home town.
*Some Good Web Evaluation Criteria Resources
Intentionally misleading websites that can be used with students when teaching them how to locate and evaluate online resources
A collection of sites-to-validate exercises is on November Learning.
Comments (1)
Dr. Arome said
at 2:35 pm on Oct 30, 2009
Kati,
Excellent job on locating and evaluating online resources for your unit on Westward expansion.
Best wishes-Dr. A.
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