Curation Of Inquiry Learning Resources by Alex Simonut

1.Rock Odyssey by David Zaremba

alexsimonut — 2021-07-24 03:56:21 UTC

This resource is a kit that is composed of six sets of samples of real rocks and minerals for students to explore. It also contains nine books with information on rocks and minerals, five charts to help with identification and information and backline masters of observation and note taking handouts that can be photocopied for hands on activities.
This resource is available through the central district's Learning Commons and Education Centre so it is something available for us to use anytime. It would serve as a great provocation to start an inquiry on the rock cycle. It provides an opportunity for students to handle and observe rocks and minerals. It would be an engaging hands on activity that all students will enjoy as well as a chance to guide them into group work at the beginning of the unit. It also provides an opportunity for teachers to assess and/or teach observation skills as well as note taking skills at the start of the unit.

Work Cited:
Zaremba, David. Rock Odyssey [kit],
Retrieved July 18, 2021 from

2. NASA The Rock Cycle and Rocking the Rock Cycle

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 00:17:51 UTC

The first link is a teacher resource which offers a game to explore the different processes that form rocks, and more hands on activities to explore the rock cycle. The second link is an educational video that compares three main types of rocks found on Earth to the rocks found on the moon.
These are great resources for providing some basic background knowledge on the rock cycle and more hands on activities in a group work setting.
The same website offers videos on planetary volcanos for those students that want to take it further.
Works Cited

NASA. "Rocking the Rock Cycle." www.NASA.gov. Web. retrieved: July 23rd, 2021 <https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/rockingtherockcycle.pdf>.

NASA. "Our World the Rock Cycle." https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov.April 9, 2013. Web. retrieved: July 23rd, 2021 <https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/ourworld/our-world-the-rock-cycle>.

3.Rocks, Minerals and Gems by John Farndon

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 00:55:35 UTC

This book is a basic guide to rocks, minerals and gems. It has beautiful, full colour photographs and is written in simple language so it can appeal to all readers regardless of their reading ability. It shares information on how to identify rocks, the landscape where different types of rocks would be found and also has interesting facts and identification tips.
This book would appeal to students and it would provide information on individual rocks, gems and minerals.

Works Cited

Farndon, John. Rocks, Minerals and Gems. Illustrated edition ed. Ontario, Canada: Firefly Books, 2016. Print.

4.Skype a Scientist: Nicole Williamson

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 01:13:22 UTC

Nicole Williamson is a geologist and geochemist. Her work focuses on the geology and geochemistry of the Hawaiian volcanoes, but she has also taught mineralogy classes and planetary science.
She has done interviews with our students in the past and is an excellent primary resource for the students to learn about geology and minerals. She would also provide some information on volcanos and the students would be able to ask her questions which we could prepare ahead of time. She is very knowledgeable and could even do the interview in French for our French Immersion classes.

Works Cited
Interview with an Expert
Nicole Williamson, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Candidate

Pacific Center for Isotopic and Geochemical Research

Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

The University of British Columbia

5.Field Trip to Horne Lake Caves

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 01:30:42 UTC

Horne Lakes are local natural caves that we can visit. They offer great hands-on programs for schools that would have students learn about Vancouver Island geology.
Some of the topics covered are different types of metamorphic rocks, how cave stalactites, stalagmites are formed, underground rivers and the water cycle, sensitive ecosystems conservation and protection, effects of previous ice-ages on Vancouver Island.

Works Cited
Field trip to Horne Lake Caves, Guided Tour and activities
https://hornelake.com/small-school-groups/
Accessed on July 23rd, 2021

6.British Columbia, Its Land, Mineral and Water Resources by Sandy Duncan

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 02:00:30 UTC

Although an older resource, it contains general information about BC's resources, their extraction, management, issues related to the environment and specific populations. There is a section specifically on mining that would help add to our Rock Cycle inquiry.
This resource would be good for research and for presenting our relationship to BC resources. It presents a local perspective with a focus on curricular content as it was designed by BC educators. It is full of diagrams, charts, maps, visual representations etc. modelling a variety of formats to present data and information.

Works Cited

Duncan, Sandy. British Columbia, its Land, Mineral and Water Resources. Pacific Edge Pub, 1996. Print.

9.Siha Tooskin Knows the Nature of Life by Charlene Bearhead and Wilson Bearhead

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 02:51:00 UTC

This is a short chapter book that represents human connection to nature and our responsibility to protect it.
It provides a great depiction of First Nations teachings of our connection to the land and also it serves as background on some historical events in the history of our treatment of First Nations People.
This short chapter book would be a good resource to create an inter curricular link to Language Arts content. It also provides a First Nations' perspective in our inquiry.

Works Cited
Bearhead, Charlene, Wilson Bearhead, and Chloe Bluebird Mustooch. Siha Tooskin Knows the Nature of Life. Newburyport: Portage & Main Press, 2020. Web.

7.Mining by John Sandlos, Arn Keeling

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 03:48:49 UTC

This is an article in the Canadian Encyclopedia on mining as one of the primary industries in Canada. It provides information on the process, its history and its economic impact.
This would provide background information on the way resources are extracted once they have learned about the rock cycle.
It also provides links to other articles in the Encyclopedia that go more in depth into the history of mining and a series of pictures of mining around the country.

Works Cited

Sandlos, John and Keeling, Arn. "Mining." The Canadian Encyclopedia.April 7, 2009. Web. July 23rd, 2021 <https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mining>.

8.Mineral Match Panels by CIM Foundation

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 04:14:34 UTC

This resources is a set of visuals that connect minerals to objects we use in our daily lives.
It would be very helpful in highlighting students connection to our dependency on mineral resources.

Works Cited

CIMF. "Mineral Match Pannels." CIM Foundation. Web. July 23rd, 2021 <http://www.cmmf72.org/en/mineral-match-panels>.

10.Canoe Kids Volume 2: The Haida of Haida Gwaii by Canoe Kids

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 04:38:04 UTC

A beautiful book that explores Haida First Nations culture through stories and vivid photographs. There is a strong environmental theme throughout the book as we learn about Haida's connection to the land.
This is a wonderful way to incorporate First nations perspective on environmental issues. Learning about culture and connections to the land through stories is a powerful way to develop empathy.

Works Cited

Canoe Kids. Canoe Kids Volume 2: The Haida of Haida Gwaii. Reality Media, 2016. Print.

alexsimonut — 2021-07-26 06:05:43 UTC

On this paddlet, I have gathered ten of the best resources that would be helpful to conduct an inquiry for a grade 5 class. This inquiry will be in the subject of science, and it will focus on the curricular Big Idea: “Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.” Some of the big questions that we will use as possible guides are:

How do we interact with water, rocks, minerals, soils, and plants?

How can we act as stewards of our environment? (https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/5/core)

I chose this topic because I know I will be collaborating with the grade 4/5 teacher on an inquiry on the Rock Cycle next year and I wanted to use this as part of my planning. With this thought in mind, I made an effort to select resources that are actually available for the students at my school to use. I selected books that can be found through our district's Library Learning Commons catalogue and websites that are available to use. I also tried to base my choices on a variety of formats and place a focus on resources that would engage the students and motivate the teacher who will be collaborating with me on this inquiry, as it will be one of my first projects as a Teacher Librarian. I tried to include resources and learning experiences that would appeal to a variety of learners with a variety of skills. I also wanted to take advantage of local resources to make the inquiry more relevant to their lives. Quite frankly, I ended up with an overwhelming amount of resources and thus the curation process began.

I prioritized resources based on ERAC’s Evaluating, Selecting and Acquiring Learning Resources: A Guide as I found the form they offered in their document very helpful. I generally followed these questions:

1. Does it support the rationale, pedagogy and goals of the BC curriculum?

2. Does it support active learning and a variety of learning styles?

3. Does the resource encourage and support group work and independent learning?

4. Does it help develop critical thinking skills?

5. Does it support the development of communication skills?

6. Does it encourage and promote creativity?

7. Is the content accurate and relevant to BC, Canada?

8. Is the content applicable to the students’ lives?

9. Are the concepts in this resource clear and age appropriate?

10. Does it support a variety of learning styles?

11. Do the visual representation and layout support student learning?

12. Does it present different perspectives and does it promote respect of diversity?

Works Cited

"BC Curriculum -Science 5
." Web. <https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/5/core>.

Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium. (2008). Evaluating, selecting and acquiring learning resources: A guide. Vancouver, BC: ERAC.

Types of Rocks

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 20:55:41 UTC

The Rock Cycle

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 20:57:31 UTC

The Rock Cycle

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 20:57:54 UTC

Rocks, Geology

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 20:58:39 UTC

Rocks Quiz

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:02:23 UTC

Geology

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:04:13 UTC

Earth Layers

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:05:41 UTC

10 mins

Types of Rocks

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:11:52 UTC

types of rocks song

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:12:10 UTC

Intro to rocks and minerals

alexsimonut — 2025-04-02 21:13:29 UTC

earths crust

alexsimonut — 2025-04-23 21:00:23 UTC