Mining for Gold, Gems, and Treasures Party

Gem Party by MiaPonzoArt
More Gem Invitations

Great for pirate parties, mining parties or any other party, too!

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Depending on what your occasion is, and based on the other factors, you then need to plan out how much time is going to be allotted for each activity.

Let's say the party is going to be 2 hours.

So, you need to decide how many games you are going to have time for, leaving at least half an hour (or more, if the children are younger) for food.

If the children are younger, you are going to have to have games that go faster, and keep them interested.

If the children are older, you can have games that are more involved, and you can also do other projects, too.

Young Children Game Suggestions -

Pass the toy

You sit the children in a circle and have a soft toy that is passed around (with help from grownups, if needed) while the music is playing... when it goes off the child left holding the toy is out. If you have a lot of children, you can make this go faster by having many soft toys all in play at the same time. The soft toy is preferably something that fits in with the theme... like a clam, a stuffed gemstone, or something similar (otherwise any toy will do, even plastic gems (large ones to avoid choking) to pass around).

Duck Duck Goose Type

The children sit in a circle and one child goes around with a toy (or giant gemstone) and hides it behind one child's back and runs... if the other child catches him (or her) before they take the running child's place they win and the first child must continue, but if the first child manages to sit without getting caught, then the chasing child becomes "it".(This game is just fun.. a prize for all)...

Story Telling

Young children absolutely adore stories, and so having them sit around and listen to a very animated story, and you can even make one up (we have a couple gem related stories that have lots of princesses and precious rubies, etc in them)...

Older Child Suggestions:

If you are having a girls party, you might want to let them make jewelry with their gemstones.

Or make gemstone crafts (like treasure boxes, etc)

If you are having a mostly boys party, you could do the place up like a mine and have the boys mining, identifying stones, and making keepsakes with the stones (or you might want to use petrified wood or dinosaur bones for boys).

Any Age Suggestions -

Hunting for Gems

Children of all ages love a treasure hunt. Just make sure that the type of hunt is gauged for the ages of the children. For older children you could even make a treasure map with clues.

Gem Drop

Get a can, bottle, or any other container (depending on the ages) and have kids compete in dropping plastic gemstones into the containers. Those most in during the time allotted. wins.

Mining for Treasures

For this, you need a couple of plastic tubs, some sand or dirt, plastic tarp for the floor (if this is going to be done indoors), plenty of water, and panning pans (we found some great stainless steel ones, but you can also use metal or plastic sieves, which work nicely, as well.

You will need some gemstones. These can be real gems (we actually used real ones, mixed with inexpensive rock, minerals, etc.) or plastic ones (just as much fun).

And you can either time it (1 minute or so is usually more than enough), so that everyone gets a turn. (You may need to reseed your dirt or sand if you have a lot of participants).

The other way is to give each guest a blob of clay with the gems hidden inside, and they have to dip them in the water until they uncover the gems.

Guests of all ages enjoy both methods, and if you have a good budget, you might want to do both.

Click on the image to get a SCAVENGER HUNT plan for your party!

Photo Credit: Mia Ponzo

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Make up your own easy scavenger hunts for hours of party fun for the children!

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These are just what you need for your gemstone party!

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The party-goers will LOVE these!

Real treasure!

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All you have to do to copy these is make chocolate cupcakes, and add golden caramel frosting (either ready made or you make it)....

Then add pretzel sticks with cut pieces of licorice to resemble the pick axe!

Easy, cute, fun, and YUMMY!!!!

Click on the Image for an EBOOK on HOW TO PLAN AND ORGANIZE EVENTS!

Photo Credit: cakecentral.com

For an all boys party:

Geodes
Clay With Stones Hidden Inside
Dinosaur Bones
Sharks Teeth
Petrified Wood
Identification Cards (for Gem ID)
Magnifying Glass

For an all girls party:

Gemstones
Rings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Candy Gems
Gold Flakes in Vials

Photo Credit: unknown... if anyone has information about this photo.. please let us know so we can give proper credit.