Description :

Gold Rush in class!

This activity came at the end of the entire unit about the History of BC and the Gold Rush.

My co-worker and I had asked the parents to let us use their small swimming pools, and we had bought soil, aluminium pie plates, Pyrite and edible gold. We had mixed them with pebbles that we had painted in gold, to have the students observe, compare and investigate their findings, following the scientific method.

The student took turns, and were able to find golden rocks, that they needed to analyze with a referential document afterwards. They were quick to realize the actual gold was in the form of little flakes that were floating on the surface of the water. It was a lot of fun!

Grade :

Grade 5 – British Columbia

Duration :

2 months

Units  :

Science

Big Idea: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.

Competencies: Observe, measure, and record data, using appropriate tools

Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks

Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of evidence

Content: local types of earth material

Social Studies

Big Idea: Natural resources continue to shape the economy and identity of different regions of Canada.

Competency: Take stakeholders’ perspectives on issues, developments, or events by making inferences about their beliefs, values, and motivations 

Content: resources and economic development in different regions of Canada