During visit learning: student activities, project ideas and questions

At the Dam -

• Explain the need for water in many parts of the mining process.
• Discuss the number of dams used to provide the water and what was done before a reliable supply was organised.
• Point out the variety of wildlife in the area.
• Let the students take several samples of the water and ensure they have noted where the water was collected.
• Temperature and ph tests should be carried out and results recorded on the worksheets provided.

At the River -

• Discuss the colours of the rocks and water
• Explain the types of waste that were washed down the river
• Point out the lack of variety of wildlife in the area
• Let the students take samples of the water and ensure they have noted where the water was collected.
• Temperature and pH tests should be carried out and results recorded on the worksheets provided.
• Discuss the swing bridges and allow the students to cross the bridge. They should be encouraged to photograph the river downstream. Emphasise the age of the bridge and the need to preserve it.

At the Museum -

• Highlight the equipment used to separate materials.
• Discuss using the scales to weigh the material and identify it as gold.
• Draw attention to the photographs of the mountain and how it changed over time.

On the Mine Tour -

• Include an opportunity to pan for gold.
• Emphasise the scale of the diggings and how much gold was removed from the mountain.
• Point out that copper and other materials were also mined.
• Discuss the waste products that were sent to the dump.
• Show the dinosaur footprints to emphasise the age when the gold was formed. Get them to think about how they knew it was dinosaur footprints.