The Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) is supporting Earth Science Week 2013 by providing materials for this year’s educational packets distributed by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). Based on the soccer-themed Minerals In Your Life Mini-Lesson, the trifold activity page, answer key and accompanying poster are designed for grades 5-8. Also included in the packet is the 2014 AGI calendar, with MEC featured in the month of March with a teacher activity on electrical conductivity of minerals. “MEC’s participation in this nationwide campaign will help to create an enlightened and supportive public that appreciates the importance of mining and minerals to their daily lives,” stated Sharon Schonhaut, Director of Education and SME Foundation Activities. “As a member society of AGI, SME partners and participates with other societies in promoting our programs to AGI membership and established outreach initiatives.” 

As the premier educational program of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration’s (SME) Foundation, MEC designs and distributes K-12 education and public outreach materials promoting an awareness and appreciation of the minerals and natural resources industries. These materials will be featured along with other sponsors and program partners including the US Geological Survey (USGS), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Foundation, US National Park Service, US Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This year’s Earth Science Week is October 13-19, 2013.

Earth Science Week objectives:

• To engage students in discovering the earth sciences
• To remind people that earth science is all around us
• To encourage earth stewardship through understanding
• To motivate geoscientists to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the Earth.

Since 1998, AGI has organised this international event to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. AGI will distribute 16,000 packets to teachers nationwide.