This is a hands-on, literature-based class that will take us back in time to explore California's discovery, exploration, settlement and statehood. We will learn about the fascinating Spanish, Portuguese, English and Russian explorers, and the American pioneers, like Kit Carson, John C. Fremont and Jedediah Strong Smith, who helped shape our state.   We'll record our findings about the Gold Rush, the missions, and the Pony Express in a timeline and notebook that will include maps, sketches, reports, essays and poetry. We'll also make missions, salt dough maps, a lap book...and more! We'll be reading Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Cruise of the Arctic Star by Scott O'Dell, as well as Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel Laurgaard, Jesse Benton Fremont: California Pioneer by Marguerite Higgins, By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman, Riders of the Pony Express by Ralph Moody, and Blue Willow by Doris Gates.  Most of these books should be available at the library. Field trips are also in the works!

This is a year-long class.

$20 Material fee for the year due by the beginning of the Fall Semester