Out of the Rock Teacher’s Guide Binder

This teachers’ guide binder contains 15 ready-to-use, hands-on, integrated learning activities on rocks, minerals, mining, geology, the environment and economics. Grades K-8.44 pp.; 3-ring binder;  8” x 10 1/2”; color contents.

Educational Standards: Next Generation Science Standards PS1, LS1, ESS3, and ETS1; and Common Core State Standards for language and math.

Education GeoSource

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.

Where’s That Mine of Mine?

Through discussion and an assignment requiring research and analytical thinking, students will gain an understanding of modern mining, society’s reliance on the industry, and some of the challenges faced by modern mining professionals. Students will also be exposed to examples of the many professional disciplines on which the industry relies.

The assignment in this lesson challenges students to consider factors affecting where new mines might be developed.

Download Unit Components:
I.   Overview

II.  Intro Activity

III. Main Activity

A. Teacher Instruction

B. Student Assignment

IV. Supporting Resources

The Rock Cycle

The Geological Society of London’s Online interactive resource The Rock Cycle, with the Rock Cycle Animation, shows how surface and deep Earth processes produce the rocks we stand on and use to build our homes.  Also find a glossary, demonstrations/experiments and extensive background information about the rock cycle.

Diamonds Educator Guide

Students will gain a greater understanding of diamond mineralogy, geology, discovery, mining and processing through these materials from Mining Matters (Canada) developed in collaboration with Science North for a temporary exhibition.