California History Links

Welcome to your study’s links page! We’ve compiled many great resources to help you learn. If you find any broken links, please let us know below.

This page is for the 2026 edition. If you are using the 2020 edition of this curriculum (titled Around California), use the following link: Links for Around California

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Part I: The Ice Age

Lesson 1

NOTE: The following videos reference an evolutionary timeline.

Ice Age Bay Area

The Earth 10,000 Years Ago

Ice Age Death Trap

“I Love You, California”

Lesson 2

Columbian Mammoth (NOTE: This video references an evolutionary timeline.)

Pygmy Mammoth

Lesson 3

Extinction: Smilodon, The Saber-Toothed Tiger (NOTE: This video references an evolutionary timeline.)

Le Brea Tar Pits | Smithsonian Magazine

Lesson 4

When Camels Roamed North America NOTE: This video references an evolutionary timeline.)

California Condors

California Condors Return to the Skies

Part II: The California Indians

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Sounds of the Sea: Spiny Lobster

Lesson 8

Grunion Lore

Grunion: Bridging Land and Sea

California Grunion

Garibaldi Fish

Garibaldi – State Symbol

Lesson 9

How Pelicans Survive Their Death-Defying Dives

Lesson 10

Decoding Sea Otter Behavior

The Fantastic Fur of Sea Otters

Lesson 11

Saving the Island Fox

Lesson 12

Sandhill Cranes

Lesson 14

Buckeyes

The Dogface Butterfly

Dogface Butterflies at Shutamul Bear River Preserve

Manzanita Punch

Lesson 15

Fly-Fishing for Golden Trout

Lesson 16

California Quail

California Tribes Sidebar

Ohlone Life

Kumeyaay

California Tachi Yokut

Lesson 17

California Tribal Territories Map

Casa de Mesquite – Mesquite Flour

Part II: Culinary Connection

Traditional Smoked Salmon

California Indian Food and Culture – Teaching Kit from Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology

Tongva People – This site is full of information about traditional food preparation and contains beautiful photographs of the tools and baskets made by various indigenous peoples of California.

Part III: Discovery and Exploration

Spanish Explorers Sidebar

Ferdinand Magellan

What Happened to the Aztecs?

Aztecs: Arrival of the Conquistadors

Lesson 22

History of California (Watch the first three minutes for this lesson.)

Cabrillo’s Journey

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (This is the first of two parts. The sequel is worth watching as well!)

Sebastián Vizcaíno’s Expedition

Part IV: The Mission Era

Lesson 23

Junípero Serra and the California Missions (NOTE: Part II of this series is not suitable for fourth-grade students. This video is part of A&E’s Saints and Sinners of California’s Missions.)

St. Francis of Assisi

Lesson 24

Sea Lions 

Navy Sea Lions and Dolphins 

Lesson 25

Swallows: California’s Gold

Cliff Swallow Nests

How Bison Are Helping Cliff Swallows Build Their Nests