Science at the Library ~ It’s a Gold Rush!
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We haven’t quite reached the Forty-Niners in our history studies yet. But, that didn’t keep us from attending a great learning opportunity at our local library. A mom, trained as a geologist, has been running a series that uses arts and craft projects to help teach the kids about all things geological.
A few weeks back, we went for the first time and caught us some ‘gold fever.’ Boy, do I wish we’d started going the month earlier as the presentation was fantastic for the younger student (pre-school into elementary school.) Only D and R participated while P wandered the stacks to see what great books he could check out. J was along for the ride with me.
Instead of “here’s how gold is formed and how miners find it” in a formal presentation manner, she had them create an art project showing the cracks in bedrock that allow for water to enter and gold glitter was added to areas where gold deposits could form. Then, since miners don’t just go and randomly dig up rocks to find gold, she showed how they could find collection of gold along the riverbed and then trace it back up to the source. More glitter and glue made for fun for the kids! They even did an imitation panning for gold (seeking bb pellets amid gravel.)
She also had some paper mazes for the kids to try to get a marble ‘to the gold’, which seemed easier than it was for some of the formations.
The boys are looking forward to the next one today (diamonds and rubies, I believe!)
I'll have to see if the library has this one. I think the boys want to try their hand at panning for gold sometime with their dad. At least D and R got a sense of how hard it might be to find the gold.
Go grab the book By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman – I just finished reading it and will be starting it with my kids soon. It's about the Gold Rush. Wonderful! A boy and his butler stow away on a boat bound for California to dig for gold. They have adventures on the boat and more when they finally get to California.