Heather Rodriguez. Travel, Learn, Teach: Exploring Community Resources for Learning I EDU-X701P.

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1 Heather Rodriguez 6508 Travel, Learn, Teach: Exploring Community Resources for Learning I EDU-X701P heatherrodriguez@maderausd.org Location Visited: Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

2 Assignment #1: Rationale The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a place in the mountains of Madera County that gives visitors a chance to experience history of the lumber industry of Madera Country and therefore the foundation and origins of the county and city that I live in. Since the word madera means wood in Spanish, this is a place that truly explains the origins of the place I have grown up and lived in my whole life. At the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad visitors can ride a steam train through the forest that explores the logging industry of Madera County and visit a museum dedicated to the logging industry that spurred the development of my home town. As a child growing up in Madera, it seems like I was always aware of the history of the town. I knew that madera meant wood and the town had once had a thriving lumber industry. I remember as a child visiting the Sugar Pine Railroad and riding the train through the woods. As a teacher now in the same town, more and more students seem to have lost that understanding and the connection to our history. When I mention the history of Madera, the lumber industry and Sugar Pine Railroad most seem completely bewildered. We have an annual football game in the town between the two rival high schools and the winner is awarded a giant saw trophy which nods to the historical origins in the town and yet none of the students seem to understand why a saw was chosen. By exploring the Sugar Pine Railroad, students will be able to understand the history of the town and how it developed over time. This will support the idea of community pride set by the school as well as supporting state standards of understanding the history of the state.

3 Assignment #3: Community Learning Evaluation Letter Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad Hwy 41 Fish Camp, CA To Whom It May Concern: Recently I visited the Sugar Pine Railroad and was so pleased with my visit! It was exactly as I remembered it as a child and I was glad to revisit this gem in the Sierras. I am interested in using the railroad to enhance my lessons on local and state history with the possibility of bringing students on a field trip to experience for themselves all you have to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed the train ride and the information that the guide was able to provide not just about the trees and plants, but also about the history of Madera and the lumber industry that fostered the growth of the county. The guide was very thorough in detailing how the lumber industry developed and how that impacted the development of Madera County. This was exactly what I was hoping for and I was able to learn a lot. I was also very impressed that not only was the guide able to give us the scripted history, but was willing to take questions and answered them in a way that truly showed his knowledge and was very engaging. After the train ride I was able to visit the museum. It was fascinating to see all of the old machinery that is at your facility, but I was disappointed in the lack of a docent or guide inside the museum. I know you intend

4 this to be a self-guided tour, but if I was to bring students on a field trip, would someone be available? One thing that pleasantly surprised me was the gold panning that was available. I was not aware that you offered this! It was quite exciting to be able to do this and the guides in the gold panning area were very knowledgeable about the history of the gold rush and how it affected the growth and development of Madera County. This is something that will help my students not only enhance their understanding of Madera, but also how Madera ties into the history of the state of California. Thank you so much for a wonderful visit. I look forward to using what I have learned to enhance my lessons and my students understanding of the history of Madera. I hope that this will turn into a potential field trip destination for years to come! Sincerely, Heather Rodriguez

5 Assignment #2 &4: Lesson Plan Enhanced with Photos Overview: Students will be exploring the history of Madera County by working collaboratively to create a visual timeline. Students will understand that the foundation of the Country and eventually the city of Madera revolved around it first industry, the lumber industry. Through this industry, students will be able to explore the role of the Sugar Pine Railroad in the development of the County and City. Objective: Students will be able to trace the history of Madera County by exploring the first major industry, the lumber industry. Materials: Sugar Pine Railroad handouts, timeline template, Chrome Books, colored pencils/markers, poster paper Activities: 1: Students will use their Chrome Books to research the history of Madera County. They will start their research using the following websites: 2: Students will then use the information from their research to complete their timeline using the provided template. 3: Students will then be shown pictures of the Sugar Pine Railroad. Students will be instructed to choose 5-10 pictures to enhance their timeline. Students will need to create unique and appropriate captions for each picture.

6 Timeline Template Directions: Use the following template to create your timeline. Yours will be created on the provided Poster Paper. You will need to add color and visuals

7 Sugar Pine Railroad Pictures Steam Engine releasing steam View of from the train ride

8 Riding on the open rail car The cars waiting to be filled

9 Riding in the covered car

10 The old jenny cars used for logging

11 Old cars used to support the railroad

12 Old abandoned engine Train waiting to leave

13 Panning for gold Old tools from the lumber industry

14 Old tools from the lumber industry