The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the basic elements of our Earth's crust: rocks, soils and minerals. They learn how we categorize rocks, soils and minerals and how they are literally the foundation for our civilization. Students also explore how engineers use rocks, soils and minerals to create the buildings, roads, vehicles, electronics, chemicals, and other objects we use to enhance our lives.

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the importance of rocks, soils and minerals in engineering and how using the right material for the right job is important. The students build three different sand castles and test them for strength and resistance to weathering. Then, they discuss how the buildings are different and what engineers need to think about when using rocks, soils and minerals for construction.

GeoExplore Saskatchewan is a website that will enable teachers, tourists and anyone to explore the intriguing geoscientific features of Saskatchewan. This website is a digital version of the printed Geological Highway Map of Saskatchewan.

There are numerous resources, interactive maps, Geo 101 and more!

Copy and paste this url into your browser to view a webinar on how to use this resource https://resourcebank.ca/courses/geoexplore-saskatchewan-website-webinar.

This activity simulates the extraction of limited, nonrenewable resources from a "mine," so students can experience first-hand how resource extraction becomes more difficult over time. Students gather data and graph their results to determine the peak in resource extraction. They learn about the limitations of nonrenewable resources, and how these resources are currently used.

I have decided to use the Inquiry process in my unit on rocks and
minerals. Since my students are familiar with the inquiry process and I
have already had some success with this style of teaching and learning, I
have decided to use a blended inquiry. It was be a blend of open and
guided inquiry where I was able to assist students as needed although
they had the freedom of posing their own questions and also had the
freedom to choose their own form of formal assessment such as a
written paper, a poster with an oral presentation, or a Power Point
presentation. I allowed the students to pose their own question in the
hope of sparking their curiosity and sense of wonder.

This site introduces students to mineral science and the scientific process -- observing things, forming hypotheses, and drawing conclusions. Students watch crystals grow, go on a scavenger hunt for minerals, and create a classroom exhibit of rocks and minerals (for Grades 3-8).

To work collaboratively in small groups and as a whole class, to compose a list of leveled questions to ask Austin.
Students will use Bloom’s Taxonomy Flip Chart for Critical Thinking to assist in leveling questions.
-Come up with 3 questions that you could ask, based on what we have studied in our rocks and minerals unit.
-Write down the level of question you believe it is.
-In groups of 3, use your flip charts to discuss each of your questions from Step 1.
-You must agree on what level you are going classify each question as.
-After leveling questions, take your sheets to the charts posted at the front of the room. Put a checkmark under the level of question that you designated each as. (9 checkmarks/group)

Welcome to Secondary Science Implementation Support. This site from the Ministry of Education in SK has a huge collection of excellent supports for High School Science.

There are currently over 500 supports available.

Select "Support Materials" from the menu on the left.

This site houses materials developed to support teachers' implementation of secondary science courses. The Support Materials section contains materials that have been developed and refined by each of the course-specific Secondary Implementation Support teams. Teachers are free to use these materials as they wish.
Any teacher may post questions in the Discussion Board and/or share their materials. Note that copyright must be respected in all cases.

Support materials for Science 10, Health Science 20, Environmental Science 20, Physical Science 20, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Biology 30, Earth Science 30, Computer Science 20 and Computer Science 30 have been posted.

You must be logged into Blackboard to see the supports.

This resource can help you access Blackboard as a SK Teacher if you are having difficulty: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sws.oercommons.org/media/editor/30/Accessing_Blackboard.pdf (Copy and paste this url into a browser).

Please note: You will need to click "Open this in a new window" to view the resource when the message appears.

This site invites kids to start a collection of rocks, shells, postcards, posters, or something else that interests them. Three Smithsonian collections are sampled. Rocks and Minerals includes the Hope Diamond; Stamps includes Western Cattle in Storm (1898); Historic Coins includes the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal.