On Friday, October 23, Teena Starchman's third and fourth graders at Sierra Foothill Charter School had an excellent field trip to the Mariposa Museum and History Center on Hwy 140 and the California State Mining and Mineral Museum at the Fairgrounds.

At the first stop, miners showed students how to use the stamp mill. After, they were split into two groups, taking turns touring the museum's exhibits and panning for gold.

At the Mining and Mineral Museum, students were taught about the rock cycle and given rock samples to look at. Then groups took turns seeing the mine tunnel and going on a scavenger hunt for rocks and minerals. 
A Mariposa Museum and History Center Docent shows students how to pan for gold.
SFCS students Aiden Pierson and Rhu Jones try their luck panning for gold.
Teena Starchman's third and fourth graders stand outside the California State Mining and Mineral Museum at the Fairgrounds.
Randy Bolt and his assistant at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum talk to students about a variety of minerals that can be seen at the museum. Best of all, they have samples for the students to hold and examine up close.
Students Malaya Shelton, Ellie Sexton, Ty Harrison, and Andrayah Collins enjoy looking at the model stamp mill -- which runs with many moving parts and comparing it to the life size stamp mill they saw at the Mariposa Museum and History Center earlier in the day.

Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, K-8 public school. Space is currently available in Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the home school program. For more information, contact the office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: sierrafoothillcharterschool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.