Seams of Gold

1. Involve students in a sewing activity. Students could each create a small sampler using brightly coloured embroidery thread.
2. Ask students to write an extra final chapter for Seams of Gold. The chapter should begin when Danny is home again and reunited with his parents.
3. Use the Relative relations BLM (PDF file 319kb) to explore Danny and Uncle's evolving relationship. Students are asked to describe how the two characters feel about each other at different stages in the story.
4. Ask students to create a diorama that depicts a scene from the book.
5. In the final chapter Danny receives a gift from his uncle. Ask students to identify an object that has special significance to them or their family. Students should bring the objects to school and talk to the class about their object.
6. Use the Gold rush research BLM (PDF file 233kb) to explore the Australian gold rush era more fully. Students should work in groups of six and each student should research and report on one aspect of the jigsaw. The research should then be combined in one visual display.

More information about Chris Cheng and his experience of writing Seams of Gold is available at www.chrischeng.com

> Explore The Gold Rush interactive about life on the goldfields (2.1mb)
(requires Flash 6 version, see link below)
> Explore Seams of Gold discussion questions
> Purchase book