Extra Credit Crossword Puzzles

Jane Selverstone
,
University of New Mexico


Summary

These are two crossword puzzles that I hand out for extra credit, one for the igneous half of the course and the other for the metamorphic half. The puzzles reinforce concepts, vocabulary, and mineral formulae that we have gone over in class and labs. The students *love* them, and usually end up working on them in groups.

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Context

Audience

This activity is used in a sophomore or junior level petrology class for majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

How the activity is situated in the course

This is an extra credit exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Students should have a basic knowledge of igneous and metamorphic petrology- sufficient to answer crossword puzzle clues.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

These are two crossword puzzles that I hand out for extra credit, one for the igneous half of the course and the other for the metamorphic half. The puzzles reinforce concepts, vocabulary, and mineral formulae that we have gone over in class and labs. The students *love* them, and usually end up working on them in groups. Both puzzles were created using the Discovery Channel Puzzlemaker: http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students have met the goals of this activity if they are able to complete the crossword puzzles.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs

Discovery Channel Puzzlemaker: http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com

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