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Heart of the Gold Rush

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Katie McFarland

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Heart of the Gold Rush

Students will collaborate in a simulated Gold Rush panning challenge to practice teamwork, resilience, and a growth mindset, then reflect on strategies for overcoming setbacks.

This lesson builds essential SEL skills—teamwork, adaptability, and perseverance—helping 7th graders navigate real-life challenges by learning to support each other and view mistakes as growth opportunities.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on challenge fosters teamwork, resilience, and growth mindset.

Materials

  • Gold Panning Kits (trays, sand, water, gold nuggets), - Stopwatch or Timer, - Growth Mindset Reflection Sheet, - Team Roles Chart, - Gold Rush Challenge Cards, and - Large Poster or Whiteboard and Markers

Prep

Prepare Materials and Stations

10 minutes

  • Gather gold panning trays, sand, water, and gold nuggets
  • Print copies of Growth Mindset Reflection Sheet, Team Roles Chart, and Gold Rush Challenge Cards
  • Arrange four panning stations with materials
  • Review Heart of the Gold Rush Lesson Plan and familiarize yourself with challenge flow
  • Ensure timer is accessible to all groups

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Ask: “What qualities helped miners succeed during the Gold Rush?”
  • Students share ideas: teamwork, perseverance, problem-solving
  • Record responses on whiteboard to highlight SEL skills

Step 2

Team Formation and Role Assignment

5 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of four
  • Introduce Team Roles Chart with roles: Panner, Recorder, Timekeeper, Motivator
  • Groups assign roles and review responsibilities

Step 3

Gold Panning Challenge

12 minutes

  • Distribute panning kits to each group
  • Explain goal: collect as many gold nuggets as possible in 2-minute rounds
  • After each round, groups pause to discuss strategy improvements
  • Draw a card from Gold Rush Challenge Cards to introduce surprise obstacles or bonus tasks
  • Rotate roles each round so everyone experiences different responsibilities

Step 4

Reflection and Growth Mindset Discussion

5 minutes

  • Hand out Growth Mindset Reflection Sheet
  • Students individually reflect on challenges they faced and how they adapted
  • Volunteers share key insights with the class
  • Emphasize how setbacks lead to learning and resilience

Step 5

Closure and Celebration

3 minutes

  • Each group names one success and one area to improve next time
  • Teacher celebrates teamwork and growth mindset achievements
  • Close with quote: “Gold isn’t just in nuggets—it’s in the lessons we learn.”
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Slide Deck

Heart of the Gold Rush

An SEL Adventure in Teamwork, Resilience, and Growth Mindset

Welcome students to the SEL adventure. Explain that today they’ll work in teams to pan for “gold,” practicing teamwork, resilience, and a growth mindset.

Warm-Up Discussion

What qualities helped miners succeed during the Gold Rush?

• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________

Ask: “What qualities helped miners succeed during the Gold Rush?” Record their responses on the board. Highlight how these qualities relate to teamwork and perseverance today.

Team Roles

• Panner: Operates the tray to search for nuggets
• Recorder: Tracks and counts nuggets found
• Timekeeper: Monitors each 2-minute round
• Motivator: Encourages teammates and keeps morale high

Introduce the four roles by referring to the Team Roles Chart. Have each group assign roles and confirm responsibilities.

Gold Panning Challenge

  1. Collect as many nuggets as possible in 2-minute rounds.
  2. After each round, pause to discuss strategy improvements.
  3. Draw a surprise card from Gold Rush Challenge Cards.
  4. Rotate roles each round so everyone gets a turn.

Distribute kits and explain the challenge flow. Remind students to discuss strategy after each round and to draw a surprise card from Gold Rush Challenge Cards.

Growth Mindset Reflection

Think about a challenge you faced during panning:

• What obstacle did you encounter?
• How did you adapt your strategy?
• What did you learn about teamwork or resilience?

Distribute the Growth Mindset Reflection Sheet. Let students write quietly, then invite volunteers to share one insight with the class.

Closure & Celebration

• Group Success: __________________
• Area to Improve: __________________

“Gold isn’t just in nuggets—it’s in the lessons we learn.”

Invite each group to share one success and one area to improve. Celebrate their efforts, reinforcing that mistakes are part of learning.

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Worksheet

Growth Mindset Reflection Sheet

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________

Think back on the Gold Rush gold panning challenge your team completed. Respond to the prompts below with as much detail as you can.

  1. Describe a challenge you faced during the gold panning activity. What made it difficult?






  1. What strategy change did your team decide to try after the first round? Why did you choose this new approach?






  1. How did this adaptation help your team improve? Give a specific example from one of the rounds.






  1. Describe a moment when you felt frustrated or noticed a mistake. How did you respond to stay resilient?






  1. What key lessons about teamwork, perseverance, or growth mindset did you learn today? How can you apply these lessons in other areas (schoolwork, sports, friendships)?










  1. My personal commitment to growth: One thing I will do differently next time to keep improving is:






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Activity

Gold Rush Challenge Cards

Use these cards to introduce surprise obstacles and bonus tasks during the Gold Panning Challenge. Shuffle the cards and have each team draw one at the end of each round.

Card TitleTypeEffect
Muddy WaterObstacleAdd an extra handful of sand and water to your tray before the next round. Panning will be slower.
Chilly HandsObstacleAll team members wear cotton gloves during the next round, making it harder to handle the pan.
Double PointsBonusAll gold nuggets you collect in the next round count as double.
Royal DecreeObstacleSwap roles with another teammate for the next round.
River SpillageObstacleYou lose one collected nugget of your choice before the next round begins.
Time WarpObstacleThe next round is only 1 minute long instead of 2 minutes.
Time BonusBonusAdd 30 seconds to your next round.
Sneaky SquireObstacleSteal one nugget from another team’s total at the end of this round.
Team BoostBonusOne teammate can act as a “coach” (can’t pan) to counsel others and offer strategy tips for the next round.
Hidden GemBonusAn extra gold nugget is secretly placed in your tray. If you find it, earn 2 bonus points.

Shuffle and place face-down. After each 2-minute round, each team draws one card and follows its instructions before starting the next round.

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