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Panning for Gold Activity

August 17, 2017 By Vicky

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We have lots of rocks in our backyard and I having been trying to come up with fun ways for the kids to use them such as our Garden Sensory Bin. Recently, we collected some rocks, painted them and incorporated them in our sand play. This panning for gold activity is a fun way to brighten up some rocks (literally) and add new life to a sand table. Be sure to also check out these Backyard Activities for Kids.
Panning for Gold Activity - Kids will make their own "gold" and then sift to find their treasure.

Panning for Gold Activity

We went outside in search of some small rocks. If you do not have any in your yard, a quick walk around the neighborhood or to a local park will turn up some. We collected our rocks in buckets with each child taking 15-20 rocks.

panning for gold activity

Panning for Gold Activity Supplies:

  • Small rocks
  • Gold craft paint
  • Small paint brush
  • Paper plate
  • Tongs
  • Parchment paper or foil
  • Sand table or container filled with sand
  • Sand shovels, sifters and colanders
I made a palette on a paper plate by squirting some gold craft paint onto the plate. The kids just painted the rocks on the plate which made for an easy clean up.
panning for gold activity
My youngest paints a rock and her finger. This activity was actually not as messy as I thought it would be. We quickly discovered that when we were done painting one side of the rocks we could use the brush to flip the rock over and paint the other side.
panning for gold activity

The rock painting went much quicker than I was expecting. These kids were motivated!

panning for gold activity
When the rocks were painted, I picked them up with tongs and placed them on a sheet of parchment paper to dry. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can use foil.
panning for gold activity
The next day when the rocks were dry, I buried them in our sand table. If you don’t have a sand table, a container filled with sand will also work. I also supplied the kids with some sand tools such as shovels, sifters and a kitchen colander.
panning for gold activity
I covered most of the gold with the sand, but did leave a few in view.
panning for gold activity
Each of my kids got a bucket to collect their loot and they got started panning for gold.
panning for gold activity
Each child used a different sifting tool to find their gold.
panning for gold activity
They would shake out the sand and be left with the “gold” nuggets.
                                panning for gold activitypanning for gold activity
Now if only that were real gold!
panning for gold activity
My youngest counts her treasure. In addition to being fun, this panning for gold activity is helping her get in some math practice!
panning for gold activity
This gold has become a staple at our sand table. The kids love hiding it and then panning for it and seeing who found the most.
panning for gold activity
What are some fun things you like to add to your sand table?
If you liked this panning for gold activity check out:
I-Spy Neighborhood Walk
Mud Play

ENVIORNMENTALLY FRIENDLY KIDS CRAFTS?

If you are looking for more fun activities for kids, check out Green Kid Crafts, an earth friendly monthly craft subscription box for kids that sparks creativity while teaching kids a respect and love for the environment. These boxes are themed and each month will be filled with fun projects and creative activities that can be enjoyed by kids from ages 3-10.

Since Green Kid Crafts is an earth friendly company, they use sustainable, safe materials in all of their products. They also give a portion from each sale to environmental non-profits. Learn more about a monthly subscription of fun!

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Filed Under: Play and Fun

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  1. Mining Activities and Crafts for Kids (St. John of the Cross) says:
    December 30, 2020 at 12:42 pm

    […] Teach your children the prayer and then have them find their own treasures by panning for “gold”. The gold in this activity are painted rocks.  Mix them in a sandbox and then let your kids use traditional panning methods to separate out the “gold”.  Read how to do this activity. […]

Hi, I'm Vicky, founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for play and learning activities for kids, kid friendly food, parenting tips and general family fun, you will find it at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me or drop me a note. Thanks for stopping by!
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