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PASSAGE TO THE KLONDIKE

A Webquest for 6th Grade Social Studies

Designed by

Florence Sitko

 

INTRODUCTION

In 1896 gold was discovered in the Yukon. Thousands of adventurers and fortune seekers from Canada and around the world travelled to the Klondike goldfields to try their luck.

Imagine it is August 1897 and Pyrite Pete, a friend panning on the Bonanza Creek, has written you a letter explaining his good fortune. He is asking you to join him and be his mining partner. Pyrite Pete will meet you in Dawson City once you notify him of your estimated date of arrival. When will you leave? How will you get to Dawson City? What preparations are necessary?

THE TASK

You are to decide which route you will take to get to Dawson City. After researching the various routes you will write a letter to Pyrite Pete stating which route you plan to take and explaining the reasons for doing so. Don't forget to give an estimated date of arrival.

THE PROCESS

1. Your teacher may assign you a partner to work with.

2. Print out the information sheet to record your findings. This sheet will help you to decide the best route possible to Dawson City.

3. Research the various routes by clicking on the following websites. Be sure to record your findings on the information sheet.

  

The Trails

Gateway to the Klondike

The Perilous Journey North

Risking Death on the Trails

Getting to the Gold

Stampede Routes to the Klondike Gold

Map of Yukon

Map of Klondike Routes

Trail of '98 Map

4. Once you have completed your research, review your findings and decide which route is the most desirable.

5. Write a letter to Pyrite Pete telling him which route you will take and explain why you chose to go that route.

EVALUATION

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
1 RARELY
2 SOMETIMES
3 MOST OF THE TIME
4 ALL OF THE TIME
Information Gathering Student does not make use of resources available for research. Partial grasp of resources available for research. Substantial grasp of resources available for research. Thorough and complete grasp of resources available for research.
Content

Serious misconceptions in the learning of content.

 Partial grasp of specific content area. Substantial grasp of specific content area. Thorough and complete grasp of content area.
Communication Ineffective use of oral and written skills. Minimal effective use of oral and written skills. Effective use of oral and written skills. Highly effectiave use of oral and written skills.
Critical Thinking Never displays critical thinking or problem solving skills. Rarely dislpalys critical thinking or problem solving skills. Sometimes displays critical thinking or problem solving skills. Consistently demonstrates use of critical thinking and problem solving skills.

CONCLUSION

Those who made the journey the plans were mostly done without really knowing what lay ahead along the route and whether their decisions were the "right" ones.

CREDITS AND REFERENCES

Alaska Photography & Travel Guide @ http://www.alaskaphotography.com/photos/

 

Becker, E. A. (1998). Klondike '98. Portland,Oregon: Binfords & Mort.

Canadian Encyclopedia online @ http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/

Coates, K. S. and Morrison W. R. (1988). Land of the Midnight Sun A History of the Yukon. Edmonton: Hurtig.

Pringle, H. (1996, November). "Forgotten Claims." Canadian Geographic, 116, 36-46.

Santor, D.M. and Dicks, S. K. (1978). The Great Klondike Gold Rush 1896-1904. Scarborough:Prentice-Hall.

WAE Online CD ROM Catelogue @ http://wae.com/webcat/klonpics.htm

Thank you to Mrs. D. Dawson and the staff and students at Sargent Park School.

February 22, 2002

2008 -- © Sargent Park School 2008  
Last modified:  January 30, 2008