In this lesson, suggested for grades 3-5, students simulate panning for gold within the context of the California gold rush to examine the properties of pyrite, or fool’s gold, and compare them with the properties of real gold. Additionally, they analyze the impacts of the gold rush on the people and environment of California and decide whether the overall impact of the event was good or bad for the United States. In a culminating activity, students create a journal written from the perspective of a gold prospector to review and assess what they learned. Before beginning the lesson, we recommend reading Units I and IV, which are included in this book selection. A list of materials, teacher background information, safety notes, standards, assessments, references, and resources are provided. This book selection also includes the Table of Contents, Dedication, About the Author, Acknowledgments, Appendix, and Index.