The New World held promises of fame and fortune. As explorers sailed into dangerous waters, the need for faster trade routes grew. The mythical land of California promised the most riches, but who would get there first? So began the quest for the West! Explore California's rich history with this primary source reader that builds literacy and social studies content knowledge through the use of intriguing primary sources. This full-color title includes maps, letters, images, paintings, and photographs that will engage students and help them look at the world and current issues with a historical lens. Essential text features include a glossary, index, captions, sidebars, and table of contents to increase understanding and build academic vocabulary. The Read and Respond activity immerses students in the content through diverse, engaging activities related to the content. The Your Turn! activity challenges students to connect to a primary source through a writing activity. Aligned to the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) and other national and state standards, the book is leveled to support above-, below-, and on-level learners. Discover California with this engaging grade 4 book!