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Education

From energy, construction, and agriculture, to communications, transportation, and national defense, at home, work, or play, we all use or require minerals and mineral materials every day. Dive into lesson plans, activities, infographics, fact sheets, and more that cover a wide range of Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area science!

Coloring Sheets and Word Puzzles

Coloring Sheets and Word Puzzles

Information Graphics and Fact Sheets

Information Graphics and Fact Sheets

Stories and Videos

Stories and Videos


Activities

Shorter activities that introduce science topics.

 

Minerals and Uses Memory Match Game

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Minerals and Uses Memory Game Tiles

About: Learn about how humans use minerals in their everyday lives with this memory matching game. Match the mineral tiles with the uses tiles. 

Grades: 2-4

NGSS: ESS3.A Natural Resources

Keywords/topics: natural resources, minerals, critical minerals, uses, ore, mineral resources, non-renewable resources

Length: 15-30 minutes

Earth Materials Scavenger Hunt

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Graphite-bearing schist, A microscopic image of clay particles (dickite), Bauxite

About: Look around your classroom and see what you can find that was made from Earth materials.

Grades: 6-8

NGSS: N/A

Keywords/topics: Earth materials, rocks, ores, mining, mineral commodities

Length: 30 minutes

Periodic Table of Critical Minerals and Their Uses

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Depiction of critical minerals educational activity sheets spread out on a desk

About: Learn about critical minerals and discover the critical minerals needed to make the stuff around us!

Grades: 7- 8

NGSS: N/A

Keywords/topics: elements, critical minerals, mineral resources, everyday uses, ore

Length: variable, less than 1 hour


Lesson Plans

A longer course with multiple, related activities that introduce and expand upon a topic.

 

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Mineral Resources Program Educational Icon 1

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Other Resources

Mineral Resources Program Data Releases

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Database logo: three storage containers stacked on top of each other

A treasure trove of real scientific data produced by Mineral Resources Program projects!

Cooperative National Geologic Map

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A simulated picture of a smartphone showing the new USGS Cooperative National Geologic Map web tool

The Cooperative National Geologic Map interactive tool! This tool was also designed to be mobile friendly!

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries

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The Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 cover it lists all of the minerals contained within the text

Learn about the mineral commodities we use, for what we use them, where we get them, how much we use, and other great facts!

 

USGS Youth Education in Science

Find more educational resources on a variety of Earth science topics for a variety of ages on the USGS Youth Education in Science page!

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Woman in a green shirt labeled USGS leans over and points at a table display of water and sand, with a child watching nearby
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