How to make Gold Nuggets

I used Pea Gravel, you don't need a lot so just buy a bag for fish tanks found in the pet section of most department stores.  Use the large stones, the smaller ones are easier to lose.  Go to the hardware section and purchase a can of gold paint, use the flat not metallic.  You will probably only find spray cans of flat or matte finish so my instructions are based on that presumption.

Take some of the gravel and place in a bag. Spray the paint into the bag while shaking the gravel to make sure it gets covered completely.  To allow your nuggets to dry pour them out onto wax paper.  Be careful not to breath the fumes. 

How to Stock Your Store

I have found two ways to stock the Miner Forty Niner store.  The first place to start is any "everything's a dollar" store.  When you go to one of these stores you should shop in several ways.  First, boy toys such as cars, toy monsters, toy tools, etc.  Next make sure you have girl toys like dolls, jewelry, etc.  Third you want generic things such as arts & crafts, books, and things that both boys and girls enjoy.

The next thing you need is different values.  Items that come as a single such as a set of marbles or a radio are the highest price.  I recommend five gold nuggets.  Things such as play dough or bubbles that come two or three to a pack should be broken up and a mid price such as three nuggets set.  Finally, things like party favors such as balloons, tops, kazoos should be one nugget.

We found that for a group of a dozen children if we spent $20 a month our inventory built up over about three months to the point we had plenty.  If you divide the $20 in thirds you will have plenty.  Watch what the kids like and you'll know what to buy more of.

Another source of material is the Oriental Trading Company.  Again I would limit items to a dollar per item maximum.  It is also important to have lots of one nugget items.  This insures that even a visitor on "Store Sunday" can purchase something.

How to earn nuggets

You can change this anyway you want that works for you.  However, I started using this as a teenager teaching Backyard Bible Clubs and have tweaked it over the decades since then.  This has worked well and been very popular with the kids.

Program Details

Each Sunday pass out nuggets either all at once before you begin or as each task is completed.  I recommend at the beginning so that the flow of the rest of the service isn't disrupted.  

The Miner 49r Store is open at the end of the service once a month.  I recommend a time limit and go by age group.  You also need a store clerk.  I have found it to be effective to have a browse Sunday before the store opens.

You can provide personal banks for the children that they can leave at the church.  This will keep the nuggets from getting lost or forgotten. 

As you can see the program is simple but very effective.  We also created a character of Miner 49er.  He was great to teach object lessons about Scripture.  Later with my wife's help we added his horse Clementine with a story of why Miner has a horse instead of a mule.

Use acquisition to teach giving

You can teach the children to practice giving at special times such as Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Birthdays.  Most children do not earn their own money and these nuggets are something they earn all on their own.  This provides an opportunity to teach giving to others out of our own sacrifice and work.  Periodically purchase items that others would like.  Things such as collapsible umbrellas, jewelry, tools, figurines.  Teach the children that this is an opportunity to purchase gifts for parents and other family members.

How to have a Portable Store

It is a good idea not to leave things laying out.  We found that using bins such as Rubbermaid storage containers to hold the store inventory.  I would use three containers, a one nugget, three nugget and five nugget container.  If you use shallow containers all you have to do is open the containers to set up the "Store."