Missouri Teachers explore ‘state of mines’
The Missouri Minerals Education Foundation hosted more than 40 Missouri K-8 teachers at the 4th annual “Missouri is a State of Mines Rocks, Minerals and our Environment” workshop at Hannibal-LaGrange College in historic Hannibal, Mo., July 27 through Aug.
The annual workshop was a no-cost opportunity for teachers to learn first-hand from industry representatives about how earth science is applied in daily life. Teachers were also encouraged to take home educational materials such as boxed sets of 18 rocks and minerals, various rocks and mineral-related videos, and creative ideas for a “rockin'” curriculum.
The workshop provided information, materials, educational ideas and hands-on classroom activities associated with geology, minerals, mining, reclamation and the wise use of natural resources. Workshop activities allowed attendees to dig for geodes at Central Stone, tour Continental Cement and participate in a special “sapphire dig,” hosted by the Missouri Limestone Producers Association. The Mining Industry Council also provided entertainment at a dinner and karaoke night.
Keynote speaker Dr. Edward Dalton, president and CEO of the National Energy Foundation spoke of the state of rocks and minerals education, and guest speaker Kevin Boyer of CrestOne in St. Louis relayed his experiences in the Twin Towers on Sept. 11. A musical group, the “Doe, Re, Mi’s,” presented “Rockin’ and a Rollin’ in the Rock Cycle” courtesy of The Doe Run Company.
“This workshop is the single-most helpful tool for Missouri teachers who are interested in creatively teaching about rocks and minerals,” said workshop coordinator and Doe Run human resources manager Angie Nations.
Dianne Womack, an elementary school science teacher from St. Michael the Archangel in St. Louis who attended the workshop, agreed. “This workshop has me filled with hundreds of ideas for lessons and has made me really excited to teach about rocks and minerals,” she said. “In fact, I am driving my family and friends crazy with my knowledge about what minerals are in various objects.”
Various Missouri industries and businesses offered $250.00 scholarship stipends to provide assistance in offsetting the credit cost and/or traveling and lodging expenses associated with the conference: Boone Quarry, Bussen Quarries, Capital Quarry, Capital Sand, Central Stone, Chiles Works, Conco Quarries, Continental Cement, Continental Coal, Conveyor & Drive, The Doe Run Company, Everett Quarry, Fabick Tractor, Ford Steel, Holcim Cement Co., Holliday Sand, Iron Mountain Trap Rock, ISP Minerals, Kirkwood Excavating, LaFarge Construction, Leritz Construction, Lonestar Industries, M.K Distributing, Martin Marietta, Mine Supply, Mississippi Lime, Missouri Minerals Education Foundation, River Cement.
Riverstone Quarry, Rudd Equipment, Sieveking Oil Company, Simpson Construction, Springfield Underground, St. Charles Sand, Teck Cominco, U.S. Silica, Wallis Lubricants and Winter Brothers.
For more information on Missouri Minerals Education Foundation activities, contact Steve Rudloff at 573-635-0208 (steve @ molimestone. com), Angie Nations at 573-546-7492, ext. 4057 (anations @ doerun. com), or Juanita Ell at 314-453-7151 (jell @ doerun. com).
