This unit focuses on California's growth as an agricultural and industrial power in the 20th century and includes the impact of key people and key historic events. The unit is divided into 4 overlapping topics and should take 10 weeks to implement. Students examine how California became a power by tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s. Students learn about their family's migration to California. They investigate the development of California's water systems and the role water has played in California's growth. Students look at the effects of three historic events on California's economic growth: the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II. Students study the development and location of new industries in California since the turn of the century and their effects on the state's economy. They select more than one information source, read maps, study demographics, and analyze resources to add details to graphic organizers. The lesson plan discusses the significance of the topic; presents focus questions; gives literacy links; and provides information and student activities, dividing the topic into "Beginning the Topic"; "Developing the Topic"; and "Culminating the Topic." The assessment is integrated with the instruction and occurs throughout the lesson. Focus questions provide a framework for the evaluation. Extended/correlated activities are suggested. (Contains extensive resources for the sample topic. Additional materials are appended.) (BT)