READING RIVER SEDIMENTS: A SIMULATED MINERAL EXPLORATION ACTIVITY

6th Grade Earth Science class conducted a mineral exploration activity which simulates real-life economic, societal and issue-oriented problems. The activities were designed to teach about how water works along the earth's surface and through the ground as it picks up small amounts of the minerals found in the rocks and sediments. Certain minerals ionize, then travel along in the moving water and later react chemically with the surface of river sediments.  Since it is impractical to take a class out to the field to obtain samples, working with simulated sample river sediments were a great way to learn about this topic!