So many people love geology and don’t even know it. Screen savers, inspirational posters and advertisements all often have images of geology. In addition, all of our national parks have been chosen due to their spectacular geological features. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountain National Park are all locations with a variety of unique geological…
Teaching students how to identify minerals is joyful and challenging! The variety and beauty of minerals serves as an effective hook for teaching. Bringing in larger samples of minerals from home to showcase during class is a favorite aspect about the mineral unit, and I recently added a few samples to my personal collection as…
It is September again and it has been a wonderful start to the school year. The students are excited to be in person. They are getting to see their friends as well as getting a fresh start for the school year. I, too, am very happy to see their smiling faces and welcome their energy…
“Mini Dinosaur Dig” Are you looking for science-based, home-school projects you can do with your high school student during this distance learning time? Check out my TpT store for the addition of “Mini Dinosaur Dig” Projects. Each Mini dinosaur project contains three dinosaurs to assemble. One student can assemble and research all three dinosaurs, one…
The uncertainty of March The month of March has always meant uncertain weather in Colorado. One day it is 70 degrees and sunny leaving you feeling that summer is already here; while the next day is a blizzard that deposits 18 inches of snow. This year, March has left all of us across the nation…
ROCKS? It is that time of year when students begin registering for classes for next year. “Isn’t Geology all about rocks?” That is the question that gets asked more than any other. Rocks are certainly a significant portion of geology, but it is by no stretch of the imagination the only part of geology. The…
There is nothing I love to do more in my spare time than travel. Whenever I do travel I try to look for unique geologic locations or sites to visit while I am there. I have been very fortunate to travel to several locations over the last few years; this year I traveled to West…
Geology and Astronomy at Meteor Crater, Arizona There are very few places that I have visited that blend my two favorite science topics (Geology and Astronomy) as well as the remarkable location called Meteor Crater in Arizona. It has been on my Bucket List for some time, and over Thanksgiving break, I got to visit…
Thanksgiving week is here! I am always grateful for time with family, eating good food, playing cards, and laughing! It is also a time to recharge my mind and heart for the remainder of the semester. Reflection time is always good and provides opportunities. To create a clear path for finishing the semester as…
Coming soon…. Mineral physical property videos. Having taught Geology for so many years, I know how difficult it is for students to be able to accurately identify mineral properties. Luster and mineral cleavage are particularly difficult to accurately identify when you are new to Geology. If the physical properties of minerals are incorrectly described. It…