During this activity, your students will learn about the process of extracting gold ore from the earth and extracting gold from the ore. The students will see how the process changed over time but the result was the same, gold bullion of greater or lesser purity. They will also learn that it took a great deal of ore to produce an ounce of gold, and they will see how massive machines made the process possible. The students will look for historical clues in the video footage to help identify the age of the video. The students will then participate in a hands-on activity in which they will build a simple tower that will convey the importance of starting with a solid foundation/base when designing a machine or building.

Complete the activities at your own risk - SDPB and PBS are not responsible for any accidents that could occur as a result of completing any of the activities.