The 4th Grade class had an overnight field trip to the Gold Country – to Coloma. This is near Sutter’s Mill, the site where gold was first discovered in California. They were on their field trip for 3 days and 2 nights.
The 4th graders “lived like” the people who came from all over the country and the world in the mid-1800’s, by the thousands, to seek their fortune from panning gold.
They wore close to authentic clothing and each were given a souvenir green bandanna. They also panned for gold and found a few flakes.
They learned about how gold was panned from the rivers and streams in the area. They also learned about the history of California during the Gold Rush days.
This is the most memorable field trip for the 4th graders.
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Entry One. Jun 28, 1846
Dear Journal,
My family and I have been traveling on the California Trail for two months. Mr Samson was elected as captain of our wagon train, for he has been to California two times. My brothers, John and Billy, have spotted Chimney Rock in the distance. This I do not understand. We are forty miles away from it. Yet we did ride up to it and I carved my name into it. The plain around our wagon train is lush and green with many wildflowers. The weather is sunny with ocassoinal [sic] thunderstorms. I have now counted all the wagons in our train. There are 41 wagons in our wagon train. Our train has 3 more months to go before California. We hope to get to California some-time September.
Entry Two. July 4, 1846
Dear Journal,
It is the Fourth of July! My brothers and I have been up all morning giving and receiving gifts. Mr. Samson gave all the children the firecrackers he had saved. Yet all were not merry. Mr and Mrs. Oxford’s son, Jimmy, has died from pneumonia. Also, May, Mr. Lorn’s daughter, fell sick with pneumonia today. Now my work dress is in tatters and most of my apron torn off to keep it mended. Yet that keeps on coming off. Soon I shall have no aprons! Mother won’t let me change into my two remaining dresses. “They are for California.” she says. Mosquitoes everywhere. Each time I shake my dress, at least 15 mosquitoes get shook out. I have at least 20 bites. Also, our supplies are low. The river near by we cannot drink from as it is choked with mosquitoes. The canvas tops of our wagons still have holes from the Indian attack about an hour ago. At last five oxen died from that, and their meat was not safe to eat because of the Indian arrows and malaria. Mr. and Mrs. Lorn’s wagon is ruined by the rocky pass.
Entry Three. July 11, 1846
Dear Journal,
Today is a joyful day. It is my birthday. Also, Mrs. Willa just had a baby today! She named the baby May, after poor Mr. and Mrs. Lorn’s daughter. May Lorn died yesterday. Tonight Papa, Mr. Morton, and Mr. James will play their violins and the rest will dance. Mrs. Morton saved huge chunks of beef from some oxen we killed today. For baby May’s birthday and mine, she made beef stew! Also Mother melted 4 pailfuls of snow to drink and bathe. Papa promised me a doll when we got to Fort Bridger.
Entry Four. July 25, 1946
Dear Journal,
Today we arrived at Fort Bridger. I now have the little doll my parents had promised me when I turned 12 two weeks ago. Yet she is nothing compared to the dolls I used to have. I do miss my comfy bed and my clean clothes. Also being clean everyday was nice along with having plenty to eat and drink. I look forward to being able to see stars in a clear sky at night and being free of winter snows, cholera and pneumonia.
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