Rocky the Raccoon explores the Niagara Escarpment
Summary
Join Rocky the Raccoon as he learns about rocks, minerals and fossils along the Niagara Escarpment. Rocky is searching for a new home and meets Lily the crinoid fossil. Together they discover that parts of Ontario, Michigan and Wisconsin were once a warm, shallow sea hundreds of million years ago during the Paleozoic Era. Along the way they meet fossil friends like trilobites and brachiopods and investigate how rocks form and change through time. Illustrated by the talented Alexander Young, this children's book hopes to spark curiosity in the next generation of geoscientists and encourage the community to explore the rocks and fossils in their backyards. The teacher's guide includes printable handouts, activities, quizzes, and virtual field trips.
This project was supported by a Paleontological Society Outreach and Education grant with matching support from the APGO Educational Foundation. The book and teacher's guide are available at: https://kidszone.geoscienceinfo.com/. French version is coming soon in Fall 2025, translated by Dr. Estelle Allan.
Context
Audience
The teachers guide is designed for K-6.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Designed to align with some of the expectations in the Ontario 4th Grade Earth and Space Systems curriculum on Rocks and Minerals.
Demonstrate an understanding of rocks, minerals, and Earth's geological processes
Explain geological processes that result in the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, using the rock cycle
Describe the physical properties of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Classify different rocks and minerals according to their composition and physical properties, using various tests and criteria
Describe how fossils are formed and what information they can provide about Earth's history
Description and Teaching Materials
The teacher's guide is uploaded below. The book is available open-access at: https://kidszone.geoscienceinfo.com/
Rocky the Racoon explores the Niagara Escarpment Teacher's Guide (Acrobat (PDF) 10.1MB Sep3 25)
Assessment
Quizzes are available in teacher's guide