In 1848, gold was discovered in California.  As news of the discovery spread, many thousands of prospective gold miners traveled by sea or over land to reach California.  They all planned to strike it rich!  In this teacher-led simulation, students will join the masses headed for California. We'll begin with some background information on the California Goldrush.  Then, with the scenarios displayed on the screen, learners will work together to make important decisions.  Collaboratively, they will discuss the options and vote for their choices. 

The emphasis in this class is on cooperative decision-making.

Example Decision:  You've been panning for gold all week and you are barely finding enough of it to pay for your food.  Will you be a bit more patient and continue to pan or will you spend the last of your money to buy a pickaxe and head up into the hills?

During this one-time class, we will go through the simulation at least two times.  Outcomes will vary depending on the choices made.

Note: This class might run over time by a few minutes.  I will allow the students to complete their final simulation before ending the class.