Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

Mineral Potential and Mines in Saskatchewan

Unit: Lithosphere

Using maps and online resources students will determine what minerals occur in the ground below their school; where to prospect for diamonds and other minerals; and where Saskatchewan’s current mines are located...

Lesson Plans

Fly Away Birdy Challenge

Grades: 7-12. The purpose of the “GeoRobotics” project is to help learners explore real applications of robotics and innovation in the mining industry with respect to making the workplace safer, environmental protection, and career opportunities. Each project or challenge is divided into several SaskCode activities. By completing these activities, learners will be given the knowledge and skills to design, build, and program their own bird alarm using a combination of light, sound, and motion. For the class challenge, learners create a bird deterrence system for a mock tailing pond by using all of the bird alarms together.

Lesson Plans

I Heard That! Seismic Surveys

Unit: Foundations of Earth Science

The seismic reflection method of geophysical exploration is used widely to map geology below the surface. Students will simulate the use of geophones and...

Lesson Plans

Mineral Potential and Mines in Saskatchewan

Unit: Module 12 Uranium Formation, Location, and Exploration

Using maps and online resources students will determine what minerals occur in the ground below their school; where to prospect for diamonds and other minerals; and where Saskatchewan’s current mines are located...

Lesson Plans

Core Sampling and Ore Deposits

Unit: Lithosphere

Students will explore two of the methods of ore deposit location, the airborne magnetometer survey and core drilling. Students will identify a primary target through the airborne survey and follow-up with a drill program. Core samples will be checked for mineralization...

Lesson Plans

Grade 7 MS – Potash Solution Mining Dissolving Potash

Unit: Module 23 Potash Mining and Production

This lesson plan has been adapted from an activity developed by Murray Schultz (Chief Chemist, Mosaic Potash) for the SMA Teacher GeoVenture Tour and Showcase 2008, and from a lesson plan developed by Larry Bogdan (Teacher, Avonlea School, Prairie South School Division)...

Lesson Plans

Uranium Processing Removing Heavy Metals from the Wastewater

Unit: Chemical Equilibria

This activity was developed for the Saskatchewan Mining Association by A. Lafontaine (Teacher, Kenaston School). Uranium Processing information provided by B. Bharadwaj (Metallurgist, Cameco) and the Mill staff at Rabbit Lake Mine (Cameco Corporation).

Lesson Plans

Rock Cycle Journey and Mineral Deposits (Part 1 of 3) – Cards

Unit: Lithosphere

STATION #1 Compaction and Cementation...

Lesson Plans

Marble Hopper Challenge

Grades: 7-12. In this challenge learners will design and construct a “hopper” to hold marbles, which will have a mechanism to automatically drop marbles when something is detected at the desired distance. This challenge involves designing and constructing the hopper, as well as developing and programming the circuit.

Lesson Plans

Looking into the Earth Seismic Surveys Pilot

Unit: Foundations of Earth Science

This lesson was developed by S. Heenan for the Dancing Elephants and Floating Continents Teachers’ Companion Material. It was adapted for Saskatchewan by the SMA...

Lesson Plans

Physical Separation of Minerals

Unit: Module 13 Uranium Production and Processing

This lesson has been adapted for Saskatchewan. The original lesson is from the EdGeo Publication Bringing Earth Science to Life...

Lesson Plans

Geophones I Heard That! Seismic Surveys

Unit: Lithosphere

The seismic reflection method of geophysical exploration is used widely to map geology below the surface. Students will simulate the use of geophones and computers to record seismic signals travelling...

Lesson Plans

Grade 7 MS – Potash Solution Mining How do we know it’s KCl

Unit: Module 23 Potash Mining and Production

The students will simulate the work of a Chemical Engineer/Geochemist/Chemist /Chemical technician and general operations personnel by studying solubility curves to determine that the mineral precipitated out of solution was sylvite (KCl)...

Lesson Plans

Potash Mining – How to Sparate the KCI from the Ore

Unit: Chemical Equilibria

Students will discover how mining companies process the raw ore of potash (sylvinite) to produces the desirable potassium chloride (KCl). The students are given the task of separating the valuable KCl (sylvite) from the NaCl (halite) and gangue minerals in the ore.

Lesson Plans

Rock Cycle Journey and Mineral Deposits (Part 3 of 3) – Instructions

Unit: Lithosphere

The original idea for this lesson comes from a lesson by DLESE Mountain Building Teaching Box. It has been adapted for Saskatchewan schools by the SMA...

Lesson Plans

Marble Sorter Challenge

Grades: 7-12. In this challenge, learners will design and construct a machine to sort marbles into different bins. Learners will sort the marbles, one at a time, by pressing a button that rotates a “selector” wheel and “sorter” wheel that will direct the marble into the correct bin. This activity involves designing and constructing the sorter, as well as developing and programming the circuit.

Lesson Plans

Mineral Exploration and Core sampling

Unit: Foundations of Earth Science

This lesson was develop by D. Klassen and M. Batty (Exploration Geologists, Cameco) for the Saskatchewan Mining Association’s Minerals and Products (MAP) event...

Lesson Plans

Physical Separation of Minerals

Unit: Module 14 Uranium Refinement, Distribution and Uses

This lesson has been adapted for Saskatchewan. The original lesson is from the EdGeo Publication Bringing Earth Science to Life...

Lesson Plans

Gold Exploration Activity

Unit: Lithosphere

This lesson was developed by the Saskatchewan Mining Association for their MAP (Minerals and Products) event...

Lesson Plans

Grade 7 MS – Potash Solution Mining Recovering Dissolved Potash

Unit: Module 23 Potash Mining and Production

Students will discover through guided inquiry and teacher demonstration that Saskatchewan’s valuable potash mineral sylvite is separated from the other salt halite, by dissolution and precipitation due to differences in solubility...