K-3 Resources

 

Young students may not be ready for full-fledged webquesting or big questions. However, they can benefit from guided exploration of the web. They can learn content at the same time they are practicing the search skills they will need to use as older students. Here are some sites to visit with your primary students to get them started into the world of webquesting.

http://geologyonline.museum.state.il.us/tools/lessons/0.1/lesson.html

This site includes a kindergarten lesson plan for acquiring a background knowledge of rocks, how they are formed, how they are used, and how to collect them.

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/index.html

Another exciting program developed in partnership with the Franklin Institute in Virginia, this site provides teachers and students with several options for learning about rocks and minerals, how to collect them safely, and how to find out more about them.

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/act/payton1.htm

The Rock Creations option uses animated graphics for young students to help understand how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic minerals are formed.

http://www.rocksforkids.com/

Rock Hounding site for k-5

http://www.bcminerals.ca/pdf/ICFAMENGColorWebsmall.pdf

This is a colorful PDF document for k-3 teachers to teach items in our environment that come from a mine. This PDF document takes about ten minutes to download and save to the desktop or to print. Plan ahead for this one, but it’s worth the preparation.

http://www.kenkenkikki.jp/zukan/e_index.html

Here’s the Great Picture Book of Construction Equipment that uses animation and movies to show how all of these big pieces of equipment work. It's a great site for K – 3 students. Parents or teachers need to work side-by-side with the students but will find it very enjoyable.

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/index2.html

Rock Hounding with Rocky

http://www.msha.gov/kids/kidshp.htm

Learn about mining and how to stay safe around abandoned mines or other dangerous areas.

http://www.msha.gov/KIDS/MRHP.HTM

Click on Wyoming for information on coal mines.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/classactivities/CookieMining_PriElem.pdf

This site has a fun activity for primary students to understand mining. It’s a cookie mining activity. All activities at this site are free for teachers and/or parents.

http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/PriInfo/CoalP.pdf

This site includes some graphics for primary aged children that teach about coal, coal mining, and making electricity.

http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/PriInfo/UraniumP.pdf

This site includes a primary teaching tool to teach about uranium, another mineral mined in Wyoming.  This one is a bit more difficult to understand than the information about coal.

http://smtc.uwyo.edu/coal/

This is a website developed by the Science and Math Teaching Center at the University of Wyoming about Wyoming Coal. Students can take a field trip through a mine to learn about Wyoming coal and coal fields, how to transport coal, and how coal was formed. Also, teachers and students can access more resources through their library. This is a great resource for Wyoming teachers and students. All of the links really work. The self-guided field trip tour can be used with young students if the teacher acts as the guide to assist with some of the quick time videos.

http://www.bcminerals.ca/

This site has quality resources for teachers and students. Developed by the mineral industry of Canada, the Mineral Resources Education Program provides good quality curriculum materials developed by teachers for teachers. Some materials may need to be customized for Wyoming, but this site is worth exploring.

http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/coal_mine/index.html

Take a virtual tour of a coal mine from the 1930’s and of a modern coal mine. Students can then develop their own conclusions about progress in this area. This is a Chicago Museum of Science and Industry online exhibit.

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow4/nov98/projects/formed.html

Take a Journey to the Center of the Earth created for you by fifth grade students in connection with the Franklin Institute. The Journey uses animation and graphics all developed by the students from the John F. Pattie Elementary School in Virginia. Learn about the earth, rocks and minerals, and more. 

http://www.mii.org/

Everything We Have and Everything We Need Comes from our Natural Resources is a source for quality free teaching materials provided by the Mineral Information Institute. Check out the graphic, Every American Born Will Need…  It’s thought provoking.

Minequests are edited and the Minequest website is maintained by Solution Designs Ink, LLC, helping teachers engage students in applying higher level thinking skills to solve real world problems.