Lesson Plan
Math Rush Lesson Plan
Students will apply proportional reasoning and percent calculations in a 60-minute gold rush simulation, solving “gold nugget” math problems to earn virtual gold and reinforce key 7th-grade skills.
Connecting math to the excitement of the California Gold Rush motivates students to practice ratios, proportions, and percents—essential for algebra readiness and real-world decisions.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Classroom Set Up
5 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
10 minutes
Step 2
Warm-Up Exercise
10 minutes
Step 3
Gold Panning Adventure
25 minutes
Step 4
Formative Assessment
5 minutes
Step 5
Closure and Reflection
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Math Rush: Gold Hunt
Agenda
The 1849 California Gold Rush
Learning Objectives
Warm-Up: Ratio Practice
Gold Panning Adventure
Formative Assessment
Closure & Reflection
Worksheet
Answer Key
Cool Down
Reading
Activity
