San Francisco: A City of Gold, Grit, and Great Ideas
An Eight-Week Adventure Through the Heart of the Bay
From the Gold Rush to Ghirardelli, this unit transported students into the soul of San Francisco—where innovation meets natural wonder, and history echoes through hills and cable cars. Each week blended hands-on projects with meaningful stories to help students discover how this iconic city helped shape California and the world.
Week 1: History of Discovery and Anthropology
The journey began with the Gold Rush and the founding of San Francisco. Students explored early forts, the 49ers, and how the search for gold transformed the land and its people, laying the foundation for a booming port city.
Week 2: Natural Science
San Francisco’s diverse ecosystems and vibrant salt ponds became a science lab. Students investigated native species, natural history, and the delicate balance between human industry and environmental stewardship.
Week 3: Language Arts
With inspiration from Robert Frost, students read, wrote, and performed original poetry. They connected the rhythm of verse to the pulse of a city known for its artful expression and layered voices.
Week 4: Earthquakes
Students dove into the drama and devastation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, examining tectonic plates, the San Andreas Fault, and how communities rebuild and innovate after disaster.
Week 5: Invention
From Levi’s jeans to television, It’s It ice cream, and popsicles, students explored the quirky and powerful inventions that came from San Francisco. They even brainstormed and pitched their own inventions—Bay Area style.
Week 6: The Arts
Through the Palace of Fine Arts, cultural performance, and Lantern Stories, students celebrated the artistic heart of the city. Hands-on activities included mask-making, visual art, and storytelling through light and movement.
Week 7: San Francisco Cuisine
Food brought the city’s multicultural roots to the table. Students tasted their way through boudin sourdough, fortune cookies, Ghirardelli chocolate, and stories from Fisherman’s Wharf—exploring food as history, heritage, and hospitality.
Week 8: Cable Cars
The unit wrapped with a climb—through San Francisco’s 48 named hills and its iconic bendy roads. Students studied the engineering behind cable cars and created their own models, learning how innovation can rise to meet any elevation.
This unit was more than a tour—it was a tribute to resilience, creativity, and cultural diversity. Students left with a newfound appreciation for one of America’s most iconic cities and the curiosity to explore what lies beyond the next hill.