Education
Educational Resources
brought to you by the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
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
Information Graphics and Fact Sheets
Stories and Videos
Activities
Shorter activities that introduce science topics.
Minerals and Uses Memory Match Game
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
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
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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Other Resources
Mineral Resources Program Data Releases
A treasure trove of real scientific data produced by Mineral Resources Program projects!
Cooperative National Geologic Map
The Cooperative National Geologic Map interactive tool! This tool was also designed to be mobile friendly!
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries
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!
