Fossil Identification and Research Unit MidnightStar is introducing a new unit on fossils! Teaching geology would not be complete without including the study of fossils because studying them offers insights into ancient ecosystems and the history of life on Earth. Additionally, students often have an innate interest in fossils and are typically openly excited to…
Collaboration in a geology classroom is not just advantageous; it’s fundamental to the learning process. Geology, the study of the Earth’s structure, processes, and history, is a field that thrives on diverse perspectives, problem-solving, and shared experiences. Because of this significance, Midnight Star strives to provide collaborative lessons for the geology classroom. The importance…
MidnightStar seeks to offer teachers active engagement activities for the high school Geology classroom. It has been shown that these types of activities aid students in high levels of learning that result in academic achievement for every child. So, what is active engagement, and what are the benefits of implementing such activities? Active engagement in…
Over the past 6 months MidnightStar has been adding lessons on rock and mineral identification. This prompts a question that students often ask: “Why do we study rocks and minerals?” My response in the classroom takes place over the entire year in geology class, for the answer is extraordinarily complex and deserves significant amounts of…
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show This last week I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. I have been to the Denver Gem and Mineral Show many times, but this was the first trip to see the Tucson gem show. The picture included for this blog is one of my…
Do you love geology? Do you homeschool your kids in the Denver area? Are you looking for an educational field trip? Consider doing what I did this week; visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. My specific reason for going to the museum this week was to visit the new exhibit called “After the…
The Metamorphic Identification Lesson: It is posted! The Metamorphic Rock Identification Lesson is now for sale on my TpT website. It is very similar to the igneous rock and sedimentary rock lessons I have had posted for some time in my store. These lessons have been used in the classroom and have been tweaked many…
Midnight Star is throwing a sale! Are you looking for hands-on activities for your Earth Science or Geology classes? Do you teach at the high school level and are looking for activities that are age appropriate? Look no further. Your timing could not be better for on August 29 and 30 all of my lessons…
I have just posted a Sedimentary Rock Identification Lesson on my TpT site. It contains notes that can be displayed to students in the classroom as well as an interactive note guide for students to complete as the information about sedimentary rocks is being described. The texture of sedimentary rocks is very important for students…
When you ask a student what information is studied in geology class, the first word out of their mouth is “Rocks!” My response to this declaration is “Yes, geologists study rocks; among other topics.” Learning to identify rocks is a skill that takes significant effort and practice. This blog is the first in a series…