Introduction

Nothing excites the imagination quite like hunting for gold. Thousands of adventurers left behind families, crossed mountains, navigated white water rapids, suffered extreme cold and discomfort all for the dream of striking it rich. "Seattle's Stake in the Klondike Gold Rush" harnesses the adventure and excitement of the last great American gold rush to teach your students key social studies concepts, language arts skills, mathematics, and economics.

"Seattle's Stake in the Klondike Gold Rush" is organized much like a Storypath. Students create characters who travel to the Yukon Territory in search of gold. The characters are lead through the same basic journey that most gold seekers experienced in 1897. Along the way students problem solve, write, reenact, debate, reflect, and create all while learning about the Klondike gold rush.

Written with best practices for a brain compatible classroom in mind students will find the activities very hands-on. The unit creates a meaningful setting for learning, provides time for reflection and student choice, integrates different disciplines, requires student to collaborate, and provides novelty and sense of the unexpected. Learning becomes an adventure with Seattle's Stake in the Klondike Gold Rush.

We recommend you read through the entire curriculum before you begin. Some lessons can be implemented on a moment's notice while others require some considerable prep work. As you read through the curriculum you'll find each lesson is followed by the supporting documents needed for the lesson. The lessons are organized to follow the same series of events the Stampeders experienced. A few lessons, such as the field trip, can be done at any point in the adventure.

We see this curriculum as a basic outline that presents many possible points for further exploration. Feel free to cut out or modify lessons or create your own lessons as appropriate for your students. We welcome you to share any modifications you've created or to learn how other teachers use the curriculum by visiting the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park's website at www.nps.gov/klse.

Let the adventure begin!

December 2004

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of 4Culture in the development of the "Seattle's Stake in the Klondike Gold Rush" curriculum. This unit would never have been fully developed without their generous grant. We'd also like to thank the teachers at Lakeridge Elementary School, Jessaca Gatens, Nancy Krebs, Lisa Pepple, Aaron Schelling and Karen Simons, for piloting the unit. Cecelia Adams helped with research and the rangers at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, added their wealth of knowledge and support. Thank you all!

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