The 2019
Mining Matters Annual Newsletter
is out! You can read about our highlights from the previous year, learn about upcoming events and see what new activities we are integrating into our programs.
The 2019-2020 edition of
groundWORK
is available on our website, which features our Activity-Concern-Solution activity and the Starburst™ Rock Cycle activity. Full instructions and a list of materials are included so you can easily follow along with your students or kids. Teachers can learn about upcoming professional development opportunities and get unique field trip ideas.
To request hard copies of our newsletters, please send an email to
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Mining Matters Hockey Tournament 
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Mining Matters invites members of the minerals industry, government, finance and academic sectors to join us for the 13th annual Mining Matters Hockey Tournament. Be a sponsor or enter a team that will hit the ice February 29, 2020 at the Scotiabank Pond at Downsview Park.
Teams will compete to see their name engraved on the coveted Caracle Cup! The day features a $10,000 Shoot for Loot challenge and fabulous raffle prizes. A Fossils Division is available for players over 40. Spaces are limited.
Don't have a team? No problem. Individuals without a team wanting to play can be placed subject to space.
This event is almost sold out. To register, please visit our
website
.
The Mining Matters Hockey Tournament is an important annual fundraising event. It combines intensity and fun, and brings members of the minerals industry together in support of our goal to educate students, teachers and the public about Earth science and the importance of mineral resources.
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WHERE Challenge is Back!
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This annual contest invites students between the ages of 9 and 14 to answer the questions, "What on Earth is in your stuff?" and "WHERE on Earth does it come from?" Through creative projects, students are motivated to explore the fields in which geoscientists work: Water, Hazards, Energy, Resources and the Environment. They are encouraged to discover and demonstrate why non-renewable resources are so important in everyday life.
WHERE Challenge student workshops are also offered. During the workshop, students will test the physical characteristics of minerals, match a variety of minerals to the everyday items that are made of those minerals, learn how to enter the contest and more!
Thank you to Teck Resources Limited, our WHERE Challenge sponsor for the past three years
.
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Bunibonibee Cree Nation
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This Fall, Mining Matters traveled for the first time to Bunibonibee Cree Nation, a small community situated in northern Manitoba.
With support from Adia Resources, we delivered a two-day hands-on Mining Rocks Earth Science Program. The program touched on topics, such as rock and minerals, mineral exploration, mining, environment and sustainability and careers in the minerals industry.
Students learned about the mining cycle while "mining" for chocolate chips in our Cookie Mining activity. This activity helped students understand the importance of reclamation and responsible mining practices.
One popular activity was the Headframe Engineering Challenge, where students built a structure out of straws, tape and paper to try and lift as many marbles off the ground as possible. Another favourite was Career Bingo, which taught students about the different career opportunities in the minerals industry through a game of bingo.
The program reached 64 students in grades 6 and 8. A teacher workshop was also delivered where teachers were instructed on how implement a number of different lessons and materials from a resource kit. The program was very well regarded with feedback from the program showing that 100% of the participants found the program interesting and 82% stating that they are interested in a career in mineral exploration or mining
.
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New Resources in Braille
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Mining Matters developed new resources to accommodate students with visual impairments. For example, we added words in braille to the dice that are used in our Human Water Cycle activity as well as on our Career Matching cards. These resources were implemented in a recent student program sponsored by Maritime Resources that was delivered in King's Point, NL.
Mining Matters would like to thank the CNIB Foundation for sharing their guidance and expertise during the development of these new resources
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Québec Mines + Énergie
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We returned to Québec Mines + Énergie Découverte held at the Québec City Convention Centre in November. Québec Mines + Énergie is an annual convention organized by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in an effort to raise awareness of Québec's mineral potential and energy sector from a sustainable development perspective.
At this unique event, we reached more than 3,000 students during the education program that was offered. We also reached out to hundreds of individuals from the mining and energy communities with hands-on activities about Earth science and educational resources that demonstrate the use of minerals in devices we use every day, such as medical tools and sources of energy.
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Thunder Bay Student Programs
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Thanks to a $20,000 donation from North American Palladium, Mining Matters was able to deliver 10 student workshops in Thunder Bay. We engaged 224 students with exciting activities that taught them how to identify the difference between a metallic mineral and a non-metallic mineral. They also learned about the equipment needed by miners and geologists to keep them safe and what clues to look for when trying to identify the three rock groups.
The sponsorship allowed us to provide these resources to the public and catholic school classes for free. A resource bundle was left with each teacher that included print materials, minerals, rocks, testing equipment and a class set of geodes.
This donation will be used to support more student and teacher workshops in the Thunder Bay area next year.
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Save the Date
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March 1 - 4, 2020
We will be at the PDAC Convention sharing resources and information about Mining Matters. Educators are invited to experience the PDAC Convention through a complimentary exhibit day pass for access to the Trade Show. Join us on March 1st for this unique experience to learn about geoscience and the minerals industry. Register here.
June 11, 2020
Mining Matters will be hosting its 14th annual Diamond in the Rough Golf Classic. This signature event raises funds for mineral resources education. To learn more about the event or to register a foursome, please visit our
website
.
In conjunction with our golf tournament is our Rock Cycle Ride for Minerals Education. Grab your helmet and join us for a 40- or 80- kilometre ride through the Rouge Valley while supporting the next generation of geoscientists.
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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Mining Matters is a charitable organization committed to educating young Canadians about mining's importance to our quality of life. Delivering 25 years of excellence in mineral resources education, Mining Matters has reached an estimated 750,000 teachers, students and members of the public since its inception in 1994.
Your personal or corporate contribution supports the development and delivery of leading edge educational programs that meet all Earth science curriculum expectations for the grades in which they're offered.
Charitable Registration Number: 88775 6435 RR0001
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Mining Matters | T: 416-863-6463 | F: 416-863-9900
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