In this basic experiment, students explore whether the panning technique would work for prospectors. First, have students write a hypothesis. Then fill a pie pan with gravel and add some water. Gently shake the pan over a dishpan so some water spills out the sides and takes away dirt and with it. Set aside larger rocks on the paper towel for observation. Add more water and continue. Have students write their observations and conclusions.
To take the panning for gold experiment a bit further (or perhaps for older students), use it to teach the concept of density. Make your own "gold" by painting bits of iron with waterproof gold paint. Have students observe materials of similar size but different densities, such as wood, a rock and a book, to introduce the concept. Do the panning for gold experiment with your gold included and have students make hypotheses and write conclusions. Or, put sand in one jar and your gold in another and have students guess which will weigh more and discover the answer.
Students can discover some of the properties of gold by using fool's gold (iron pyrite), which is easily obtainable. Take the fool's gold outside and turn it, watching how it glitters. Real gold shines uniformly. Test its hardness by biting it (not advisable if many students are sharing one piece) or cutting into it with a knife. Real gold would leave an indent. For more advanced students, dunk the piece into a solution of nitric acid. Real gold would not be affected but other minerals will dissolve. Use caution as nitric acid can be dangerous. Practice the scientific method throughout.
Prospectors often mistook iron pyrite for real gold. It's difficult to create fool's gold in a classroom or home setting, but a copper penny can be made to look gold, tying in with how easily some were fooled by a shiny color and also teaching chemistry concepts. First, sprinkle zinc dust in an evaporation dish and add sodium hydroxide solution on top. Heat, but do not boil, then place a penny in it. The penny will start to look silver. Remove it and place in water. Then, using tongs, heat the penny with a Bunsen burner until it looks gold. This experiment shows the reaction between copper and zinc.