oshc activities
Wild West Day / Gold Panning Tub

Gold Panning Tub

Children sift through a tub of sand and water with sieves to find painted 'gold nuggets', just like gold rush prospectors.

How to run it

  1. Paint small rocks gold and bury them in a tub of sand.
  2. Add a little water to the tub to make it like a creek bed.
  3. Children use sieves and pans to sift for gold.
  4. Count and weigh the gold found, then re-bury it for the next group.

You will need

  • sand
  • water
  • gold-painted rocks
  • sieves
  • shallow pans
  • large tub
Make it easier or harderOlder children can learn about Australian gold rush history and record their finds.
SafetyUse rocks too large to swallow and supervise water play.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4Sensory play with a history link builds curiosity, counting and fine motor skills.

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