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lesson 1: multipling

1×1=1   1×2=2   1×3=3   1×4=4  1×5=5  1×6=6  1×7=7  1×8=8  1×9=9  1×10=10

2×1=2  2×2=4  2×3=6  2×4=8  2×5=10  2×6=12  2×7=14  2×8=16  2×9=18  2×10=2o

3×1=3  3×2=6  3×3=9  3×4=12  3×5=15  3×6=18  3×7=21  3×8=24  3×9=27  3×10=30

4×1=4  4×2=8  4×3=12  4×4=16  4×5=20  4×6=24  4×7=28  4×8=32  4×9=36  4×10=40

5×1=5  5×2=10 5×3=15  5×4=20  5×5=25  5×6=30  5×7=35  5×8=40  5×9=45  5×10=50

6×1= 6  6×2=12  6×3=18  6×4=24  6×5=30  6×6=36  6×7=42  6×8=48  6×9=54  6×10=60

 7×1=7  7×2=14  7×3=21  7×4=28  7×5=35  7×6=42  7×7=49  7×8=56  7×9=63  7×10=70

8×1=8  8×2=16  8×3=24  8×4=32  8×5=40  8×6=48  8×7=56  8×8=64  8×9=72  8×10=80

9×1=9  9×2=18  9×3=27  9×4=36  9×5=45  9×6=54  9×7=63  9×8=72  9×9=81  9×10=90

10×1=10  10×2=20  10×3=30  10×4=40  10×5=50  10×6=60  10×7=70  10×8=80  10×9=90  10×10=100

lesson 2: states

         STATES  

State	Capital
Alabama	Montgomery
Alaska	Juneau
Arizona	Phoenix
Arkansas	Little Rock
California	Sacramento
Colorado	Denver
Connecticut	Hartford
Delaware	Dover
Florida	Tallahassee
Georgia	Atlanta
Hawaii	Honolulu
Idaho	Boise
Illinois	Springfield
Indiana	Indianapolis
Iowa	Des Moines
Kansas	Topeka
Kentucky	Frankfort
Louisiana	Baton Rouge
Maine	Augusta
Maryland	Annapolis
Massachusetts	Boston
Michigan	Lansing
Minnesota	St. Paul
Mississippi	Jackson
Missouri	Jefferson City
Montana	Helena
Nebraska	Lincoln
Nevada	Carson City
New Hampshire	Concord
New Jersey	Trenton
New Mexico	Santa Fe
New York	Albany
North Carolina	Raleigh
North Dakota	Bismarck
Ohio	Columbus
Oklahoma	Oklahoma City
Oregon	Salem
Pennsylvania	Harrisburg
Rhode Island	Providence
South Carolina	Columbia
South Dakota	Pierre
Tennessee	Nashville
Texas	Austin
Utah	Salt Lake City
Vermont	Montpelier
Virginia	Richmond
Washington	Olympia
West Virginia	Charleston
Wisconsin	Madison
Wyoming	Cheyenne

lesson 3: presidents

Presidents of the United States of America

---

#	Name	Party	Served	Full	Partial	States	Reason for leaving
1	George Washington	F	1789-1797	2*	–	11*/15	Did not seek reelection.
2	John Adams	F	1797-1801	1	–	16	Defeated.
3	Thomas Jefferson	DR	1801-1809	2	–	16/17	Did not seek reelection.
4	James Madison (Jr.)	DR	1809-1817	2	–	17/18	Did not seek reelection.
5	James Monroe	DR	1817-1825	2	–	19/24	Did not seek reelection.
6	John Quincy Adams	DR	1825-1829	1	–	24	Defeated.
7	Andrew Jackson	D	1829-1837	2	–	24	Did not seek reelection.
8	Martin Van Buren	D	1837-1841	1	–	26	Defeated.
9	William Henry Harrision	W	1841	0	Started	26	Died of pneumonia.
10	John Tyler (Jr.)	W	1841-1845	0	Finished	26	Did not seek reelection.
11	James Knox Polk	D	1845-1849	1	–	26	Did not seek reelection.
12	Zachary Taylor	W	1849-1850	0	Started	30	Died of cholera morbus.
13	Millard Fillmore	W	1850-1853	0	Finished	30	Lost party nomination. Defeated in 1856.
14	Franklin Pierce	D	1853-1857	1	–	31	Lost party nomination.
15	James Buchanan (Jr.)	D	1857-1861	1	–	31	Did not seek reelection.
16	Abraham Lincoln	R	1861-1865	1	Started	33/36*	Assassinated.
17	Andrew Johnson	D*	1865-1869	0	Finished	36*	Lost party nomination.
18	Ulysses Simpson Grant [Hiram Ulysses Grant]	R	1869-1877	2	–	37*	Did not seek reelection. Lost party nomination in 1880.
19	Rutherford Birchard Hayes	R	1877-1881	1	–	38	Did not seek reelection.
20	James Abram Garfield	R	1881	0	Started	38	Assassinated.
21	Chester Alan Arthur	R	1881-1885	0	Finished	38	Lost party nomination.
22*	Grover Cleveland [Stephen Grover Cleveland]	D	1885-1889	1	–	38	Defeated. Elected again in 1892 (see below).
23	Benjamin Harrision	R	1889-1893	1	–	38	Defeated.
24*	Grover Cleveland [Stephen Grover Cleveland]	D	1893-1897	1	–	44	Did not seek reelection.
25	William McKinley (Jr.)	R	1897-1901	1	Started	45	Assassinated.
26	Theodore Roosevelt (Jr.)	R	1901-1909	1	Finished	45	Did not seek reelection. Defeated in 1912.
27	William Howard Taft	R	1909-1913	1	–	46	Defeated.
28	Woodrow Wilson [Thomas Woodrow Wilson]	D	1913-1921	2	–	48	Did not seek reelection.
29	Warren Gamaliel Harding	R	1921-1923	0	Started	48	Died of stroke.
30	Calvin Coolidge [John Calvin Coolidge]	R	1923-1929	1	Finished	48	Did not seek reelection.
31	Herbert Clark Hoover	R	1929-1933	1	–	48	Defeated.
32	Franklin Delano Roosevelt	D	1933-1945	3*	Started	48	Died of cerebral hemorrhage.
33	Harry S Truman	D	1945-1953	1	Finished	48	Did not seek reelection.
34	Dwight David Eisenhower [David Dwight Eisenhower]	R	1953-1961	2	–	48	Could not run again due to 22nd Amendment.
35	John Fitzgerald Kennedy	D	1961-1963	0	Started	50	Assassinated.
36	Lyndon Baines Johnson	D	1963-1969	1	Finished	50+DC	Did not seek reelection.
37	Richard Milhous Nixon	R	1969-1974	1	Started	50+DC	Resigned.
38	Gerald Rudolph Ford (Jr.) [Leslie Lynch King, Jr.]	R	1974-1977	0	Finished	50+DC	Defeated.
39	James Earl Carter (Jr.)	D	1977-1981	1	–	50+DC	Defeated.
40	Ronald Wilson Reagan	R	1981-1989	2	–	50+DC	Could not run again due to 22nd Amendment.
41	George Herbert Walker Bush	R	1989-1993	1	–	50+DC	Defeated.
42	William Jefferson Clinton [William Jefferson Blythe IV]	D	1993-2001	2	–	50+DC	Could not run again due to 22nd Amendment.
43	George Walker Bush	R	2001-	0	In office	50+DC	n/a

lesson 4: time

60 seconds = 1 minute

60 minutes = 1 hour

24 hours = 1 day

7 days = 1 week

365 days , 52 weeks , 12 months =1 year

lesson 5: roman numerals

l = 1      v=5      x=10      L=50     c=100    m=1000

lesson 6: ben franklin

He was one of the most extraordinary human beings the world has
ever known. Born into the family of a Boston candle maker, Benjamin
Franklin became the most famous American of his time. He helped
found a new nation and defined the American character. Writer,
inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist,
civic leader, international celebrity . . . genius.
Explore the life of a remarkable man

lesson 7: Roman Numerals

I=1     V=5     X=10     L=50    C=100     M=1,000

Lesson 8: Learning who is on the…

$1.00 Bill…………………………..George Washington

$2.00 Bill…………………………..Thomas Jefferson

$5.00 Bill……………………………Abraham Lincoln

$10.00 Bill………………………….Alexander Hamilton

$20.00 Bill………………………….Andrew Jackson

$50.00 Bill………………………….Ulysses S. Grant

$100.00 Bill……………………….. Benjamin Franklin

$500.00 Bill……………………….. William McKinley

$1,000.00 Bill……………………. Grover Clevland

$5,000.00 Bill……………………..James Madison

$10,000.00 Bill……………………Salmon P. Chase

$100,000.00 Bill………………….Woodrew Wilson

Lesson 9: the Map of the United States

Lesson 10: The map of California

Lesson 11: Map of Washington

 Lesson 12: Map of Maine

Lesson 13: Map of Georgia

Lesson 14: Map of Oregon

Lesson 15: Map of Nevada

Lesson 16: Map of Idaho

Lesson 17: Map of Arizona

Lesson 18: Map of Utah

Lesson 20: Map of New Mexico

Lesson 21: Map of Colorado

Lesson 22: Map of Wyoming

Lesson 23: Map of Montana

Lesson 24: Map of Texas

Lesson 25: Map of Oklahoma

Lesson 26: Map of Kansas

Lesson 27: Map of Nebraska

Lesson 28: Map of South Dakota

Lesson 29: Map of North Dakota

Lesson 30: Map of Louisana

Lesson 31: Map of Arkansas

Lesson 32: Map of Missouri

Lesson 33: Map of Iowa

Lesson 34: Map of Minnesota

Lesson 35: Map of Mississippi

Lesson 36: Map of Tennessee

Lesson 37: Map of Kentucky

Lesson 38: Map of Indiana

Lesson 39: Map of Illinois

lesson 40:dinosaurs

|| Kids Zone || Facts About Dinosaurs
		What colour were the dinosaurs? Nobody knows the real colours of dinosaurs because the pigment is not preserved in their fossils. Occasionally, skin impressions of dinosaurs are found, but the skin itself decomposes rapidly. Many palaeontologists believe that dinosaurs were probably earth-tone colours (green. grey, brown) similar to reptiles of today, so they would be camouflaged in their environment. How old did dinosaurs get? It is not possible, from the fossil record, to age the dinosaurs. Growth rings in the teeth could not be used because they were constantly being replaced throughout the lifespan of the dinosaur. However, based on comparison to modern reptiles and large mammals, it is estimated that dinosaurs may have lived for 50-150 years. How can you tell is a dinosaur is male or female? By studying the fossils, it is not possible to identify the gender of a particular dinosaur because reproductive organs do not fossilize. There may be slight differences in the processes of the caudal (tail) vertebrae in the females because they lay eggs. Some palaeontologists assume that larger skulls of the same species are male, whereas the slightly smaller ones are female. The tendency in nature, in vertebrates, is the larger member of the species are male. Some dinosaurs, such as the duckbills and ceratopsians, exhibit head ornamentation. It is speculated that the more elaborate crests and frills belong to the male of the species and is used in display rituals for attracting mates and defending territory, much like is seen today in many animals. What was the largest dinosaur? Based on the findings from complete skeletons, the largest (meaning tallest and heaviest) dinosaur was Brachiosaurus. They were 12 meters (40 feet) tall and weighed 70-80 tons. However a few fossils from four other dinosaurs (Supersaurus, Seismosaurus, Argentinosaurus, and Ultrasaurus) have been found that indicate they may have been larger than Brachiosaurus. Presently, only partial skeletons of these other dinosaurs have been discovered, so it is not certain whether they are new species or simply very large Branchiosaurs. Which dinosaur was the smallest? The smallest dinosaur that palaeontologists have identified is Compsognathus. This dinosaur was not much larger than a chicken. The adults reached lengths of two feet, with more than half of this length being attributed to its long, thin tail. Which is the smartest dinosaur? Troodon seemed to have had the largest brain of any dinosaur in relation to its body size. This probably indicates that they were the most intelligent dinosaur. Some palaeontologists think that Troodon was as smart as an ostrich, which is smarter than any reptile on Earth today. Who was the toughest dinosaur? Most people think Tyrannosaurus rex was the toughest dinosaur, but T-rex may have been more of a scavenger instead of a ferocious hunter. The toughest and meanest dinosaur was likely Deinonychus. This Cretaceous theropod was only about 1.5 metres tall, 2.7 metres long and weighed about as much as an average man. In spite of their relatively small size, these dinosaurs were one of the most extraordinary predators of all time. With keen eyesight, large serrated teeth, grasping hands, great agility, and five-inch long sickle-shaped claws on each hind foot, they would have been ferocious enemies. Were the dinosaurs warm or cold-blooded? All reptiles living today are ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals that have a body temperature which varies with their surrounding temperature. Endothermic (warm-blooded) animals, like mammals, generate their own constant body heat. Since dinosaurs were reptiles, most scientists assumed that they were also ectothermic. However, recently, some palaeontologists have disputed this claim and they believe that some dinosaurs may have in fact been endothermic (warm-blooded). This has led to much controversy and debate in the scientific community.In looking for clues to this mystery, palaeontologists have considered such factors as posture (upright gait vs sprawling gait), activity levels (high vs low), and the ratio between predators and prey. The leading proponent of the warm-blooded theory is the reknowned palaeontologist, Robert Bakker. Since warm-blooded animals have so many advantages over cold-blooded animals, Bakker believes that dinosaurs could only have gained supremacy over the mammals if they were warm-blooded also. It’s possible that the question of warm-bloodedness vs cold-bloodedness may never be satisfactorily answered since no flesh, muscles, or organs of dinosaurs are preserved. The answer may not be as simple as saying that dinosaurs such as the small theropods were warm-blooded. This is indicated because of their supposed high activity levels. On the other hand, the large sauropods probably were cold-blooded because it would have been near impossible for them to eat enough food to maintain a constant body temperature. How big were dinosaur eggs? Relatively speaking, dinosaur eggs were quite small, considering the size of the dinosaur (i.e. hadrosaur laid eggs about the size of a turkey’s or slightly larger). Even the gigantic sauropods probably didn’t have eggs much bigger than a volleyball. This is because the bigger the egg, the thicker the shell has to be to keep it from collapsing. A very thick shell poses two big problems. Firstly, it would be too thick for oxygen to permeate so the embryos would not have been able to breathe. Secondly, the shell would have been too thick for the hatchlings to push their way out. Why did dinosaurs die? This question has the distinction of being the most often asked and most difficult to answer. Many theories have been proposed to explain why dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Mesozoic era.Extinction occurs when all living representations of a species die out. This has happened to many kinds of plants and animals in the Earth’s history. The environment we live in is always changing. Plants and animals that cannot adapt to change die out and become extinct. Mass extinction, the extinction of a wide range of forms of life, occurs more rarely. The most famous of these extinction, although neither the first nor the most pervasive, is the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period, 65 million years ago. Scientists have tried to explain why many different forms of life, including the dinosaurs, became extinct. Their theories can be divided into two major groups: Gradualistic theories hold that the dinosaurs were in a slow decline and that gradual changes in the environment caused their extinction. Catastrophic theories hold that dinosaurs disappeared abruptly due to some world-wide catastrophe.Gradualistic theory: Evidence from Alberta, Montana and Wyoming suggests that dinosaur diversity started to decline at least seven million years before the end of the Cretaceous. Seventy-six million years ago, thirty families of dinosaurs were living in the region, but by the end of the Cretaceous, only twelve remained. The Red Deer River of Alberta documents the decline even more dramatically. At Dinosaur Provincial Park, the Red Deer River cuts through rocks laid down seventy-six million years ago, when the area was a rich ecosystem where at least thirty-five species of dinosaurs lived. Farther upstream at Drumheller, the dinosaurs and other fossils recovered are less than 70 million years old. Although hundreds of dinosaurs skeletons have been found, only nineteen species of dinosaurs are known to have lived in the region. The rocks become younger to the northwest, where only nine species of dinosaurs seem to have lived in the region sixty-five million years ago. The fossil record along the Red Deer River is one of the best anywhere for the last ten million years of dinosaurian history, and it clearly suggests that dinosaur diversity was dropping dramatically over that period. Unfortunately, we are not sure what was going on in the rest of the world. Perhaps the climate conditions and habitats were degrading only locally. There may have been ideal conditions somewhere else where dinosaurs maintained their high levels of diversity. But such a site still has not been discovered. The gradual decline in diversity seems to be tied in with the development of harsher, more continental climates as the inland seas dried up. But could it have caused the complete extinction of such a successful group of animals? Catastrophic theory: An example of a catastrophic theory is that of the asteroid. One of the most popular catastrophic theories is that a massive asteroid, 10-15 kilometres wide (six to nine miles), struck the Earth. Upon impact the asteroid vaporized, throwing a huge cloud of dust and steam into the atmosphere. This cloud would have surrounded the Earth and screened out sunlight. If this cloud persisted for any length of time its effect on plant life, on land and in the sea (phytoplankton) would have been devastating. Because animals depend on plants for food, many would become extinct. The fastest dinosaur? Galliminus could travel an estimated 35 miles per hour — faster than any Olympic sprinter. Coelophysis may have clocked in at 25 miles per hour, while Tyrannosaurus rex lumbered behind at only 15 miles per hour. The oldest known dinosaur? Staurikosaurus lived over 230 million years ago in South Africa. It may have been related to the giant meat-eating dinosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The strangest dinosaur? Archaeopteryx, or “ancient wing” was a small, chicken-like creature with feathers, that could fly. The first known bird, it show clearly that birds are descended from dinosaurs. Eating inside a dinosaur? In 1853 Sir Richard Owen and 20 other gentlemen dined inside the reconstructed life-sized cast of an Iguanodon, which was build for the opening of the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London. The menu included mock turtle soup, pigeon pie, pheasant, French pastry and an ample selection of wines. First discovered dinosaur? Although fossils were found in England as early as 1677, the first dinosaur wasn’t recognized until 1824 when William Buckland named Megalosaurus, “great lizard”, because of its structural resemblance to reptiles. First American dinosaur? Hadrosarus, or “bulky reptile”, was discovered in 1858 near Haddonfield, New Jersey by Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia. Richest dinosaur area? Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, has yielded 35 separate dinosaur species to date. The dinosaur success story? Dinosaurs flourished for 140 million years and were the most successful land creatures ever to have lived. If the history of the Earth were compressed into a single year, dinosaurs appeared in early August and disappeared in late November. Man, who have been around for two million years, appeared on the last day of December, sometime late in the evening. Kinds of dinosaurs? Currently 440 different kinds of dinosaurs are known to have existed. Dinosaurs & birds? Today’s direct dinosaur descendants are birds. Some scientists, using physiological similarities, think so because some dinosaurs laid eggs, some created nests, some looked after their young, some travelled in flocks, some migrated, some had similar digestive systems and some were “social animals”. Voice of dinosaurs? Although no one has ever heard a dinosaur, it has been guessed that Tyrannosaurus rex had a deep raspy voice; some Hadrosaurs sounded like a five-ton goose honking and Apatosaurus sounded like a herd of snorting horses. The Mesozoic Era? Dinosaurs lived in this era of life, a time spanning 140 million years. The Mesozoic is divided into three periods — The Triassic, the Jurassic and the Cretaceous. The dinosaur name game? Dinosaur manes usually combine Latin or Greek root words. Often the names describe the dinosaur. Triceratops means “three-horned face”. The names describe places where they were discovered or recognize institutions of learning. Arctosaurus was found near the Arctic Circle and Yaleosaurus was named for Yale University. Some dinosaurs are named for people: Orthniel C. Marsh, a 19th century palaeontologist, gave us Marshosaurus.

lesson 41: rocks and minerals

Rocks are the most common material on Earth. They are naturally occurring aggregates of one or more minerals. Rock divisions occur in three major families based on how they formed: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each group contains a collection of rock types that differ from each other on the basis of the size, shape, and arrangement of mineral grains.The rock cycle is an illustration that is used to explain how the three rock types are related to each other and how Earth processes change a rock from one type to another through geologic time. Plate tectonic movement is responsible for the recycling of rock materials and is the driving

At one time or another, you have probably held a rock in your hand. Recall the texture. Was it smooth, polished by the force of sand and salt water pounding it onto the beach? Was it rough and cragged, left exposed for centuries to the wind and sun of a canyon wall? Recall the color. Was it coral and pink, like the colors of Bermuda’s sand? Was it fiery red, like the colors of Arizona’s canyons? Recall the size. Was it a handful, heavy with the weight of being worn? Was it a tiny pebble, a small fragment broken off from what it once was?

Rocks are our world. The planet Earth is, essentially, just one big interesting rock, sometimes called “the third rock from the sun.” The multi-faceted rock we live on supports life in many ways. The deep oceans, the vast deserts, and the high mountains, are just a few of the ways rock emerges and supports life.

Rocks remember. Geology is the science and study of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks. Rocks, then, keep record of the passage of time and the evolution of living things.

The word rock refers to solid mineral deposits. Rocks are minerals, but not all minerals are rocks. Minerals are all substances that can’t be classified as “animal” or “vegetable.” Metals ores found in the earth, like gold and silver, are minerals. Crystalline substances, like salt and quartz, are minerals. Homogeneous natural substances, like water and gas, are also minerals. These non-solid minerals, however, are not considered “rock.”

Begin with Minerals
Minerals are classified in several “classes” based upon common properties or characteristics. Explore the diversity of minerals as preparation for thinking about rock. The alphabetical listing of minerals by name quickly shows how diverse minerals really are. Specimens, on display at The Geology Museum, range from the most common to the extremely rare. The Mineral Gallery offers both descriptions and a growing collection of images.

The Mineral Gallery

Minerals By Name

Mineral s from the Geology Museum

The Clausthal Online Mineral Collection

Alphabetical Mineral Reference

Chemical Formulae for Minerals and Gems

Commercial Mineral Names

Mineral Collection from France

Form Solid Mineral Deposits
Some minerals, given time and circumstance, form solid deposits. These solid mineral deposits are known as rock. Pressure, temperature, erosion, and friction are forces that effect the formation of rocks. The rock formation process allows geologists to classify rocks into three groups: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Sedimentary rock forms when layers of “sediment” (small particles of solid minerals like sand and pebbles) fuse together over time under the force of water or wind. Sedimentary rock is commonly found in and near riverbeds and streambeds. Igneous (“fire-formed”) rock forms after minerals are heated to extremely high temperatures and then allowed to cool. Hawaii is a well-known source of igneous rock. Most igneous rock forms when hot molten lava cools to a solid state. Metamorphic rock forms when rock undergoes a transformation from one structure to another, usually caused by pressure, heat, and water. For example, a rock that is compacted to a more crystalline condition has undergone a metamorphosis.

These resources offer more information about the formation of rock.

Minerals, Magmas, And Volcanic Rocks

Rocks and Minerals of Kentucky

Add Unusual Characteristics
Some rock formations develop the unusual property of fluorescence. The minerals in the rock give off radiation as visible light in certain circumstances. These fluorescent rock specimens show their behavior in three different lighting situations: normal cool light, longwave ultraviolet light, and shortwave ultraviolet light.

Fluorescent Rocks

Ken’s Fluorescent Minerals

Cut and Polish Some Rock
Gemstones are rocks or other fossilized organic materials (like amber below) that are cut and polished to a brilliant state. Gemstones possess certain characteristics that make them attractive and valuable. Optical properties and durability are two examples. If a gemstone can be cut such that it reflects light brilliantly it becomes valuable for its luster. Extremely strong gemstones are desired for their durability. A diamond, for example, has a high luster and a high durability. Therefore, the diamond has become valuable and has come to symbolize long enduring relationships.

Smithsonian Mineral and Gem Collection

The Rainbow of Gems

How are Gemstones Classified?

Fossilize Some Treesap
And then there’s amber. Amber is the fossilized resin of ancient trees. Approximately thirty and ninety million years ago, sticky sap oozed from trees, catching insects, leaves, seeds, and other forest debris in a sticky trap. Over a long, long time, the sticky resin hardened into a solid fossilized deposit known as amber.

The World of Amber

Amber, A View of the Past

Assume A Fixed and Definite Shape
Many minerals are capable of forming solid crystalline deposits. Crystals are formed when a mineral solidifies under force in such a way that the solid forms a regular repeating arrangement on both the external surface and the molecular level. Quartz, a transparent crystal of silica (sand), is an abundant crystal used for many purposes.

Introduction to Crystallography and Mineral Crystal Systems

Crystal Structure Movies

Consider Some Other Ideas
So we have all of this rock, now what do we do? Throughout human history, civilizations have invented ways to use rock to improve the quality of their lives. Coal mining is a recent case worth study. Powder River Coal Company in Gillette, Wyoming, is the second largest coal producing company in the United States. Consider the process, the reward, and the consequence.

Powder River Coal Company

Alone in the wilderness without matches or a lighter, you can rub two sticks together to create heat from friction that can cause a spark and light a campfire. Or, you can strike certain rocks together to create a spark. If striking two small rocks together can cause a spark, imagine what happens when two huge rock plates underneath continents bump into each other. The sparks really fly! Earthquakes, landslides, floods, and volcanic eruptions are a few possible results.

A Model of Three Faults

Every rock has a story to tell. A good geologist knows when to shut up and listen. Each rock has a long and winding history. The rock of the Ocoee River Gorge along US Highway 64 in the scenic Cherokee National Forest of southeastern Tennessee has been waiting millions of years to tell its story. So shut up and listen.

The Geologic Story of the Ocoee River

Teach Others About Rock
These educational resources offer suggestions for teaching others about the fascinating world of rock. The activities and lesson plans may enhance your traditional geology curriculum.

Rocks and Minerals

Activities and Teaching Suggestions for Minerals, Magmas, and Volcanic Rocks

Rock Classification (created and adapted by Kathy Rector of Hening Elementary School, Chesterfield County, VA, USA)

The best way to wrap your mind around rock, however, is to wrap your hands around rock. No matter which of these resources you decide to use in your study of rock and minerals, make sure you get outside and get your hands on some rock. Compare textures. Compare colors. Compare sizes. The rock will remember.