Back in the day

Suzie Harrison

Traveling back in time isn’t something one gets the opportunity to do

every day, so it was a treat for the fourth-graders at Top of the

World Elementary School when they were able to get a first-hand feel

for the California Gold Rush.

Thanks to facilitator Kate Rosa, from California Weekly Explorer,

each of the classes got to travel back in time for two and a half

hours as part of an intensive and entertaining lesson about

California.

The students formed four separate teams and were dressed in garb

circa 1848.

To begin, the class filed in to the classroom listening to the

music blasting from a portable stereo reminiscent to the soundtrack

for “Little House on the Prairie.”

“We’re going to take a walk through California,” Rosa said. “Today

I’ll be telling the story of the history and geography of California.

The team that puts the most information into their brains and pours

the most information out wins.”

Students were given cards with “expert words” -- such as

“Chocolate Mountains” -- written on them. When the teacher called out

the word, the cardholder would rush to the front of the class and

recite the information surrounding that “expert word.”

“We are studying Native Americans, about the gold rush and

learning a lot about California,” said Alexandra Lomacz, 10.

Rosa’s approach made it very entertaining and engaging.

“It’s high energy,” Rosa said. “They memorize parts, act out

characters, it’s visual, hands on and it’s a competition so it’s

really fun.”

Another game started when the teacher called a students name. The

student would race to a map of California with lolly pops sticking

out.

“If I catch you being great, sitting up straight, smiling,

listening to the expert or showing good sportsmanship, I might tell

you to ‘Go for the Gold,’ Rosa said. “You have to grab a sucker

before the buzzer stops, some are dipped in gold, if it has gold on

the end you have to yell ‘eureka,’ which is the state motto and means

that you found gold and win points, and if not you have to say ‘Ah,

bummer.’

“I really liked it because it’s fun, and you don’t know that

you’re learning anything but you really are,” Page Watroba, 10 said.

“We dress up as people from the gold rush. I really liked the expert

chair because you have to tell a definition and run to the chair and

if you answer it right you get points.”

The final showdown entailed a student from each group that was

chosen to walk around the sizable map of California placed on the

floor and name specific areas.

“I was nervous,” Kelsie Cowman, 10, said. “It’s helpful for me to

learn about the history more and land forms in California.”

Though in one class the Green Sequoias technically won the most

points, the students they felt they were all winners because they had

learned a lot and had a blast.

“I really loved putting the map together,” Alexandra said. “I

never thought learning could be so much fun.”

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or [email protected].