Four Peaks Mining Company is dedicating the month of September to Back To School! They know how challenging this year has been and continues to be. They are hoping to equip educators with engaging resources provided in the store and students in our area with incredible learning experiences that are certain to light fires of passion inside them!
At Four Peaks Mining Co. you will find educational tools, informational/ interactive books, hands-on activities and experiments, fossils, dinosaur bones, amethyst from the Four Peaks Mine, and rocks and minerals from all over the world! Our planet is a really amazing place and the more we explore it, the more we can understand and care for it. Even their meteorite collection had to come check out this awesome planet!
This is not only a store full of nature’s most beautiful and magical creations; it doubles as an intriguing learning experience. From the amethyst that is formed in our very own Arizona Four Peaks mountains to the million years old insects preserved in pieces of Amber, the wonder inside this store is endless! Visitors can travel through a replica of the actual mine while they explore the mine walls that are lined and labeled with rocks and minerals from several continents. This amazing mine is now open for School Tours! Contact the store at 480-434-6074 for information about signing up.
Store visitors can also gear up with some safety goggles to take a few whacks at breaking open their own geode! It’s always miraculous seeing the beautiful crystals waiting inside. Though mining work is hard work, and it can take quite a few swings, even the smallest future geologist can discover what is sparkling inside these geodes.
Throughout the month of September, Four Peaks Mining Co. is offering a 20% discount to Teachers! This is a great deal that will really add more excitement and knowledge to your teaching toolbox. These are resources that will last an entire teaching career and make an impactful difference in your student’s learning experience. In many content areas you will find this store useful and engaging. Here are just a few ideas for enjoying some of our resources in your classrooms:
Geology
Idea- Why are some Emeralds more valuable than Diamonds? What makes a rock or mineral valuable? What does “rare” mean?
History
Idea- Did you know ancient Egyptians used Limestone to build their pyramids? Why do you think they used that? Was it a good choice? How do you know?
Geography
Idea- In what part of the world can we find Shungite? Why do you think it is only found there? What is it mostly made out of?
Descriptive writing Idea- Use descriptive and figurative language to describe this rock to someone who can’t see it. What does it feel like/ look like/ smell like? Describe each visual detail. Try to paint an image of this rock in the reader’s mind.
Informational writing prompts/Text structure
Idea- Write a 5 paragraph informational essay comparing and contrasting rocks and minerals. List examples and details about each.
Earth and Space Science standards
Idea- Microscope research with Amber filled with insects; Discover fossils and how they were preserved; Understand how crystals are formed; How does the color change on this rock; How old is this mineral and how was it formed; chemical and physical reactions.
Lower grades Math
Idea- Counting, sorting, describing with physical rocks or stickers found in one of the interactive books
Upper grades Math
Idea- Volume, Mass. Density
Educators are so important and your community loves and supports you! I hope you visit soon and enjoy the wondrous learning that can happen within this store and find many teachable treasures to enhance the school year.
