Pan For Gold!

July 4, 2014

When we went to Nevada over the summer, the kids got to pan for gold.  Eli, in particular loved it, so when I saw the Pan For Gold review opportunity, I knew he'd be excited.

I was right!  I used the kit as the prize for a treasure hunt I did with the boys, and they were really excited when they found it.

The Pan For Gold kit comes with a gold pan, tweezers, magnifier, 2 bags of enriched dirt, a large piece of fool's gold, a nugget bag, a vial, an activity booklet, and an Adventure Guide.

The boys didn't waste any time getting right into it.  They set up a tub of water and opened the first bag of dirt and poured about half in the gold pan.

Jack had to inspect the dirt.  Notice that there are ridges on one side of the pan, to keep the gold from sloshing out as you swish the water over it.

Eli was our first prospector.  Although the kit is designed for ages 6-12, my 13 year old enjoyed it.

Jack watched attentively, waiting for his turn.

While they're busy panning, let me tell you about some of the other kits Discover With Dr. Cool has to offer:  Dinosaur Dig, 2 Shark Teeth kits, 2 Gemstone kits, 2 Fossil kits, Real Bug Dig Kit, Discover Amber, Glow Rocks, Geodes, Fossils, Grow Your Own Crystals, and a Volcano Science Kit!  Whew!  That's an impressive line up of hands on fun!

Both boys enjoyed their turns swishing the pan and spotting flecks of "gold" in the sand.

It takes attention to detail and hand eye coordination to sort through the paydirt after the bigger pieces have been found and pull out the smaller bits of "color" with the tweezers.

Jack particularly enjoyed studying the large nugget with the magnifier, and told me all about each nook and cranny.

Panning for pyrite was every bit as much fun as panning for real gold.  I think using this kit after our trip to a real gold mine over the summer helped to reinforce some of the things they learned there.

And the learning continues with the adventure guide, which talks about the properties of gold, gold throughout history, and the 5 big gold rushes of modern times.  There are some facts about pyrite, too.  Did you know it makes sparks when struck against steel?  I had no idea.

Pan For Gold would make an excellent addition to a California history study (or Nevada, Alaska, or South Dakota, for that matter!), but it's also great for studies of geology or Egypt or India.

The Pan For Gold kit sells for $14.95, but is currently on special for only $7.50.  At this price, you might want to tuck a couple away for birthday party presents.  You can connect with Discover With Dr. Cool on Facebook or Twitter to watch for specials on their other products.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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