Make A Hands-On Learning Center That Recreates Panning For Gold

2 October 2017
 Categories: Industrial & Manufacturing, Blog


If you are an elementary school history teacher and are currently teaching your pupils about the California Gold Rush and would like to demonstrate to your class how people panned for gold in the past, the following hands-on center will provide your students with an educational experience that will help them feel as if they are reliving a historical experience from days gone by. 

Supplies

  • tables
  • shallow basins
  • water
  • pitcher
  • small shovel
  • dirt
  • small rocks
  • pebbles
  • fool's gold
  • large pieces of wire mesh
  • wire cutters
  • wooden strips
  • craft glue
  • camera
  • printer
  • picture frame
  • self-adhesive embellishments

Fill Shallow Basins With Water, Dirt, Rocks, And Fool's Gold

Move a couple large tables to the side of the classroom. Place shallow basins on top of the tables. Use a large pitcher to fill the basins with several inches of water. Add shovelfuls of dirt, small rocks, pebbles, and fool's gold to each basin. Fool's gold acquired its name due to to its yellowish-gold color that often resembles real gold and will be the perfect substitute for gold when providing your students with this learning experience.

If you do not have fool's gold (iron pyrite) on hand, you can purchase this material from a company that sells gemstones. Use a long stick or your hands to mix the materials into the water so that they are evenly dispersed.

Provide Students With Wire Mesh Tools To Scoop Up Debris

Purchase several large pieces of wire mesh. Use a wire cutter to cut mesh pieces into rectangles that are each the size of a shoe box lid. Use craft glue to secure wooden strips around the sides of the mesh. The wooden strips will provide your students with a suitable area to place their hands when dipping the mesh tools into the basins. On the day that you have chosen to invite your students to pan for gold, hand each pupil one of the wire mesh tools.

Demonstrate how to place one of the tools into the water before scooping up debris that is in the bottom of the container. Sift the contents collected until all of the water has drained and rocks, pebbles, or pieces of fool's gold are all that remain. Sort the materials collected and show the students pieces of fool's gold that you collected. Tell the students that the golden pieces aren't actually gold, but acquired their name due to their appearance. Allow the children to take turns collecting materials from the basins. 

Take Pictures Of Pupils And Frame Them

After each child has taken a turn using the gold panning center, take a picture of each student holding their treasures. Print the photographs and frame them in basic wooden photo frames. Give the children self-adhesive embellishments to secure to their frames so that they are customized. The children can bring home the framed photos as mementos of the learning experience.


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