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USGS Education

Grade Two
Science Content Standards
USGS Education Home / California Education Standards / California Resources
 
Earth Sciences
3. Earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. As a basis for understanding this concept:
 
a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

Collecting Rocks

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/collect1/collectgip.html
This basic guide provides information about starting and maintaining a rock collection.
 
Rocks and Images
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/topic_rocks.htm
This website has basic information about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, and has a links page that provides useful links to many sources of information about rock, minerals, and fossils.
 
Rocks and Minerals
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/rxmin/index.html
This website provides introductory information about rocks and minerals with a glossary of commonly-used geology terms.

Rocks and Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region

http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/bulletin/b2195/
This guide provides an overview of California geology, the rock cycle, and description and illustrations of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks found in the Coast Ranges of California.
d. Students know that fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago and that scientists learn about the past history of Earth by studying fossils.

Fossils, Rocks, and Time

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/fossils/contents.html
This general guide provides an overview of geologic time and the use of fossils to determine the age of layers in the earth.
 
Dinosaurs: Fact and Fiction
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dinosaurs/
This pamphlet contains answers to some frequently asked questions about dinosaurs, with current ideas and evidence to correct some long-lived popular misconceptions. Although much has been discovered recently about dinosaurs, there is still a great deal more to learn about our planet and its ancient inhabitants.
e. Students know rock, water, plants, and soil provide many resources, including food, fuel, and building materials, that humans use.

Minerals in our Environment

http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of00-144/
This report consists of a PDF file of a color poster (approximate dimensions 36 x 60 inches) showing how we use minerals in our everyday life.
 
Mineral Resources: Out of the Ground.Into our Daily Lives
http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of01-360/
This poster show the common usage of mineral resources in our homes, offices, and equipment we use daily.
 
Building Stones of Our Nation's Capital
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/stones/
This on-line publication provides descriptions and examples of all the kinds of stone used in the buildings and monuments in the Washington DC area, and discusses the impact of acid precipitation on our national landmarks.
 
Minerals in Sports
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/general_interest/
Learn about the amazing materials that go into sports equipment, and the minerals that these materials are derived from!  

Natural Aggregate: A Primer
http://co.water.usgs.gov/frirp/nat_ag_primer/
This website describes the origins of sand, gravel, and crushed stone and their uses and importance to society.

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Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Jul-2008 17:02:57 EDT