Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022
NNDSB students mine science knowledge in workshop
“We got to look at cool rocks!” is just one of the highlights for Grade 4 students at M.T. Davidson Public School who participated in the recent Mining Matters virtual workshop.
Mining Matters is a charitable organization dedicated to educating young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry and their roles in society. In partnership with the Canadian Institute for Mining (CIM), Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and other area school boards, the workshop was delivered to 30 NNDSB classrooms and more than 580 students.
During the workshop, students learned about rocks, minerals, metals, mining and the diverse career opportunities available in the mining industry. The class was also provided with kits which included activity books, rock and mineral samples and a penlight to explore the unique features and transparencies of the different rock types.
Grade 4 teacher Maggie Preston-Coles said her class will continue to use the Mining Matters kits as they further explore rocks, minerals, and geological processes, as well as Earth and space systems as part of the science curriculum.
“The workshop was an excellent ‘hook’ to engage the students and introduce the topic of rocks and minerals. It’s important to study this subject matter because of the environmental considerations that we all need to be aware of and responsible for,” Preston-Coles said. “People of all ages need to know how they can conserve energy and care for the environment. We all need to know how serious the climate change crisis is and that we still have time to do something about it.”
Mark Wagner, incoming chair of the Northern Gateway branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining attended the workshop in the M.T. Davidson classroom.
“The Mining Matters program is something that CIM has been sponsoring for several years. It’s something that originated in the Northern Gateway branch, we were the first ones to participate in this sort of event,” Wagner said.
Wagner pointed out that there is a skills shortage in the mining industry. These types of events help to get young people exposed to the opportunities available in mining and helps to close the labour gap.
“There are so many different opportunities available in mining, from automation to geology, mining engineering and metallurgical engineering. There are over 60 mining suppliers in the North Bay area and it’s a huge economic force for the city and the region,” Wagner said.
The Grade 4 students had a great time learning about the importance of natural resources and mining. When asked what they liked about the workshop, one student said it was “good to learn about future occupations and how we use natural resources in so many products in our everyday lives.”
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For more information, please contact:
Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
E. Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca
