The Klondike Gold Rush

PicoBuddyUpper ElementaryInformational3 min read393 words
Image for The Klondike Gold Rush

The Klondike Gold Rush

Have you ever dreamed of finding gold? Imagine a time when people all over the world believed they could strike it rich! This dream came alive during the Klondike Gold Rush, which took place in the late 1890s in a region of Canada called the Klondike. Let's explore this exciting time in history.

What Was the Klondike Gold Rush?

The Klondike Gold Rush was a period when thousands of people, called prospectors or stampeders, rushed to the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada. They hoped to find gold and become wealthy. It all started in 1896 when gold was discovered in a creek called Bonanza Creek, near the Klondike River.

The Spark That Started It All

On August 16, 1896, Skookum Jim Mason, his sister Kate Carmack, her husband George Carmack, and their nephew Dawson Charlie found gold in Bonanza Creek. This discovery quickly spread, and soon, people from all over the world started making their way to the Klondike.

The Journey to the Klondike

Glossary
Prospectors:
People who search for valuable resources like gold.
Terrain:
The physical features of an area of land.
Resources:
Things that can be used for support or help.
navigate:
To find a way through or travel across a difficult area.
scarce:
Rare or hard to find because there is not enough available.
obstacles:
Things that block your path or make it hard to achieve a goal.

One passage, many ways to practice

Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.

  • Main Idea

    Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.

  • Context Clues

    Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.

  • Summarize

    Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.

  • Structure

    Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.

  • Vocabulary

    Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.

  • Writing Prompts

    Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.

  • Fix the Sentence

    Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?

Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.

Sign up with emailLog in

Preview questions from this passageShow
  1. 1What was the Klondike Gold Rush?
  2. 2When and where did the Klondike Gold Rush take place?

Where this passage belongs

About this informational passage for Upper Elementary

“The Klondike Gold Rush” is a informational reading passage about Gold Rush, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (393 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. With a free account, you can read “The Klondike Gold Rush” online and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is “The Klondike Gold Rush”?

It’s written for Upper Elementary — a informational text about Gold Rush, about a 3-minute read (393 words).

What’s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

Yes. Remix is included with Pro and Max for adapting it to another grade level or language.