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Lesson Plans for Classroom Applications of Mineral Exploration, Mining, Mineral Recovery, and Use for Middle and High School Teachers

Tennessee Technological University and Michigan Technological University

with major support from The National Science Foundation

The Teachers Earth Science Institute 2001-2005 utilized mineral science and mineral processing to enhance the teaching of science in middle and high schools. Teachers were involved in hands-on, discovery-based activities that integrate concepts in math, physics and chemistry with elements of social science. Institute programs comply with the National Science Education Standards (NSES). Teachers received six graduate education credits upon completion of the Institute.

Research investigations, laboratory experiments, and field trips were an integral part of the Institute and included visits to study geology, surface and underground mining, mineral processing, and related industrial activities. Participants conducted drilling and blasting in an underground mine to free mineral specimens for collecting.

Participating teachers attended leadership training sessions and classroom assessment workshops.

Teacher participants were also required to produce lesson plans. These lesson plans are available on this website.

The Teachers Earth Science Institute was in session from 2001 to 2005.

Teachers Earth Science Institute was featured as a summer learning highlight by National Science Foundation

Previous classes have generated photo collections of hundreds of images to use in producing classroom and conference presentations!