Gold Rush Frame

This is one of my culminating activities for our gold rush unit. After we learned about the three routes to California, the tools miners used, and what life was like in the mining camps we created a gold rush picture and frame.

The students started by creating a frame out of popsicle sticks and small pebbles. Next, each student got a piece of 6" by 6" white construction paper to a draw picture that represented the gold rush in some way. The only rule they had was that they had to put California 1849 somewhere on their picture.  Some students drew mining camps and others drew the tools miners used and gold nuggets.  They all came out really cute!

The students set their frames on the back counter to dry and when the students went home I took out the can of gold spray and went to town!  I have sprayed them out on the lawn in years past, but this year I got smart and just covered a table! Didn't hurt my back and didnt have to move 22 frames once they dried!

The final step was to have students glue their picture to the gold frames! Viola! A beautiful craft that reminds them of all they learned about the gold rush!