School Programs

Supporting teachers through professional development workshops and hands-on resources.

 

Mining Matters hands-on approach and unique activities excite teachers and students across Canada. Reaching students K-12, Mining Matters teaches the importance of rocks, metals, minerals, mining and Canada's geology and the diverse career opportunities available.

 

Rock and Mineral Identification Guides

 

These guides identify the rocks and minerals included in the Deeper and Deeper and Mining Matters II – The Earth’s Crust kits. Complete with photographs, the guides describe each sample’s physical characteristics, origin, and uses in everyday life. 

 

More than 60 samples—representing 25 different types of metallic and industrial minerals, aggregates, and the three main rock groups (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic)—accompany each kit. 

 

In-kind contributors from the mineral and aggregate industries provide valuable resources for our educational units. Our industry partners, along with resident geologists from the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, as well as students, aid in the collection and sizing of samples. We thank them all for their on-going support.

 

 

Professional Development and Resource Kits

 

Looking for Earth science learning opportunities that bring Earth science alive for your students? Mining Matters offers teacher workshops and partners with industry and educational organizations to offer other possibilities. Since 1994, Mining Matters has reached more than 750,000 teachers and students through resources that promote the importance of rocks, metals, minerals, mining, and Canada’s geology. 

 

Mining Matters teaching resources for classrooms, developed by teachers for teachers, meet provincial Earth science and Geography curriculum mandates and guidelines. Three resource kits are available:

 

Resource kits are available in English or French through a prerequisite in-service workshop. Workshops can be arranged for between 10 and 24 teachers, anywhere in Canada, with four weeks prior notice. 

 

Student Geoscience Workshops

 

Mining Matters is now offering in-school student workshops to school in the Greater Toronto Area! Student workshops are available at a cost of $3.00 per student. The total fee is non-taxable and there are no additional fees for travel or Teacher-Facilitator services. These are complimentary. Browse through some of the topic ideas presented and consider applying today.

 

Field Trip Subsidy Program

 

Field trips provide a way for teachers to approach knowledge in a completely new way and for kids to have fun while learning! With this idea in mind, each September at the start of the school year Mining Matters provides a Field Trip Subsidy to teachers. The subsidies help offset the cost of transportation and entrance fees to stone, sand and gravel, mining, and geoscience venues. Applications are considered on a first come first-served basis.  

 

Mining Matters thanks our many Field Trip Subsidy Sponsors, for their generous support in making these educational experiences available.

 

Mineral Resources and Mining Education Tours

 

The Canadian Ecology Centre and Mining Matters invite you to participate in the 2020 Mineral Resources and Mining Education Tours. The Tours provide opportunities for formal and informal educators and mineral development advisors from across Canada to learn about Earth sciences, mineral resources and mining, including the mine life cycle, sustainability, and careers.