Grade 6-8 Visits:
When they reach Middle School, students are familiar with the fact that the Earth is made up of different types of rock and how these are formed. They also have some understanding of fossils as remains of organisms that once lived on the Earth. Middle school earth science focuses on the understanding that the processes that shape the Earth today are the same that have shaped it for millions of years, and that evidence of the Earth’s history can be found around and beneath us.
A typical 1 hour visit includes a scavenger hunt and interactive activities around the museum, as well as a walk through the Fred Webb Jr. Rock Garden, both lead by Geology students. During rainy visits, the rock garden will be substituted by other indoor exhibits such as the Rock Wall.
A 2 hour visit would also include a special session with a Geologist in one of the labs (based on availability).
During Middle School programs, we focus on the theme of Evidence for the History of the Earth. We want students to keep asking themselves the question: “How does anyone know what happened if nobody was around?” and consider how geology provides evidence for this.
Please note that because the facilities are housed inside an academic building, our indoor space is limited. Contact our Outreach Coordinator to book tours and discuss options based on the size of your group.
Gr. 6-8 Topics:
Programs with 6th, 7th and 8th grade groups are centered around these standard-aligned topics and teacher requests. We also provide online resources for teachers to download.
