Investigating the Rock Cycle Through Writing and Illustrating part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a quantative writing activity where students will use writing and illustrations to show their knowledge of the basic rock cycle.

Observing,Comparing and Classifying Rocks part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activitiy is a lab experience where students observe, compare and classify rocks. Close examination of a variety of rocks reveals their differences and can also spark questions regarding their origins.

Creating understanding how metamorphic rock is formed part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity gives a visual representation of how we are able to see the different layers of metamorphic rocks.

Investigation of Newtonian Forces on Plate Tectonics part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This model-making activity gives students an opportunity visualize Newtonian forces acting on a single point as well as combined forces acting to produce synclines and anticlines in Earth's crust. Students will analyze models to interpret findings of plate movements.

Ice Cream Model -- How Glaciers Formed the Minnesota Landscape part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a teacher demonstration of an ice cream model representing glacier movement across Minnesota. Teacher/student questions and discussion should be encouraged during the demonstration.

Mystery Material: Is it a solid or a liquid? part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an investigation of a "mystery material" where students have to determine whether the substance is a solid or a liquid. This activity can be done as part of an earth science or chemistry lesson.

Investigating the Geologic History of Southeast Minnesota by Constructing a Geologic Column part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students gather data on rock types and geologic formations to construct a geologic column that will help them to interpret the geologic history of the Cannon Falls area.

Geology of the Grand Canyon: Interpreting its rock layers and formation part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this culminating activity, students will be assessed on what they have learned during the Geology unit of their Earth Science class. After conducting classroom and field studies on geology students will utilize this knowledge to interpret the rock layers and formation of the Grand Canyon. Outside of class students will read/review a website and complete a study guide to be reviewed by the teacher to assess students' learning. Following teacher review of study guides, the next class period(s) will be a discussion and questioning session(s) on the formation of the Grand Canyon.

Rain Erosion-Does the Rate of Water Effect Erosion? part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a guided inquiry investigation where students gather data on rate of water falling on erosion. Student will interpret their data, and develop a conclusion from the data. The data will lead to further questions, which can be developed by the students.

Mapping the Glaciers part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This earth systems field lab begins with an in-class guided inquiry experience which uses Minnesota Geological Survey 3-D maps of the upper Midwest to determine where they believe glaciers may have had an influence. They will determine this by looking at landscapes and compiling their own evidence from the maps. They will also offer evidence for a hypothesis they generate which involves the direction that the glacier was traveling. The two-day lesson ends (after student presentations on their findings about glaciers) with a field investigation of one of our parking lot snow banks. Students will compare and contrast what they know about glaciers, with one of our parking lot snow banks, determining any similarities with how the landscape may have appeared during the Pleistocene.