Geology Merit Badge Lesson Plan by Nicole Neilson 2009

Day 1

• Welcome, roll, announcements
• What is Geology? and why is it important to learn about it?
• What are natural resources? what natural resources do we mine? how do we mine/ rocess them? find them?
• What is an open pit mine? like kennecot copper
• Geologic maps help us find natural minerals. Explain what a geologic map is. Drew one on the board as an example.
• Talk about topo. maps, pair scouts into groups and give each group a topo map and have them look at it for a minute. talk about how to find river direction. Elevation is the easiest to use. Have each group show you what direction a river on their map is going on their maps. 
• Draw a stream diagram. Talk about parts of a river. 
• Visit a nearby stream or river. Talk about direction, sediment, and have them identify the parts of the river. cut and fill banks, delta, etc.

Day 2

• Welcome Roll announcements
• talk about how this valley was formed. how the rockies were formed. Valley was from a glacier. 
• Talk about careers in geology like geologist, paleontologist and archaeologist and you need at least a bachelors degree. 
• Jar activity. get a glass jar and put water, rocks, pebbles, dirt ,lay leaves, etc, shake jar and have the class observe. talk about water suspension. Look at different types of rocks. have them identify igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary. 
• play geology jeopardy as a review.
• rock paper scissors.