The Education GeoSource database has thousands of free resources, from lessons to outreach and teacher professional development, for use in classrooms, scout programs, or at home.
Grade: 3-5
Mining is Us: Geotechnical Engineer Video
How do we help society obtain the mineral resources it needs while keeping miners safe? Join Carolina as she introduces the career of geotechnical engineering.
A Winch Lightens the Load
How do well winches help people haul water from deep inside a well? Students design a model well winch that raises and lowers a full bucket without spilling any of it.
All About Coal
Introduce primary and elementary students to the formation of coal, the coal mining process, reclamation of lands, and the uses of coal. Hands-on, multi-disciplinary activities. Free download. 59 pages. Find related curricula at www.need.org.
Reclaiming a Mine Site
Build a model reclaimed landscape in a plastic tub and observe and compare the growth of vegetation on one of eight model landscapes to learn that specific conditions are needed to re-vegetate reclaimed mine sites. This MEC page from the 2016 AGI Earth Science Week Calendar was created with permission from Caterpillar. To view the Caterpillar Ground Rules video and access the accompanying 75-activity guide go here.
The Life Cycle of a Mineral Deposit – A Teacher’s Guide for Hands-on Mineral Education Activities
Information, a glossary, and activities on finding, identifying, and extracting mineral resources used in our everyday lives.
Saskatchewan Mining Association Resources For Teachers Grades K-5
Conduct activities about potash solution mining and more. Activities are from the Saskatchewan Mining Association.
Grades K-5
Potash mining activities.
Potash, uranium and coal mining activities by resource.
Potash and Uranium Mining and Mill Tours.
Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour behind-the-scenes of Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah. The mine is the largest excavation on Earth and over its history has produced more copper than any other mine. The Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine also produces gold, silver and molybdenum. Visit the mine, concentrator, smelter, refinery and other facilities through captioned narration, 360° images, and videos.
Learn about environment and sustainability efforts that include the “cleanest smelter in the world,” reusing 80% of their water, and creating the 3000 acre shorebird preserve, LEED buildings and a sustainable community. Content is aimed at grades 6-12, though all ages will enjoy the Virtual Tour.
Note: The tour requires sign-in with name and email. The virtual tour works best with the latest version of modern browsers Firefox, Explorer and Chrome.
From Ore To More Video
This fun 6-minute video from Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper tells the story of copper from start to finish, through the mining, processing and end uses of copper, complete with great mathematical analogies for the scale of giant sizes and weights.
Content aimed at grades 4-8, though all ages will enjoy the video. [5:59]
Phosphate Activities
Accompanying Activities
These simple activities reinforce concepts learned in the phosphate mining video.
Paper Manipulative Activity
Multiple Choice Questions and Writing Prompt
