GEMS Kits

During the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020, Mining Matters faced the challenge of creating new ways to deliver programs and engage audiences. One method we discovered was the creation of the “GEMS Kit.” These kits were distributed to Indigenous communities as well as to camps, schools, homes, and literacy centres across Canada to great success. This success led to the creation of two more kits that contained all new activities.

All three GEMS Kits are specifically tailored for intermediate grade levels and consist of 10+ hands-on activities, providing most of the necessary equipment and supplies, all other needed materials are basic household supplies. All activities contain written instructions, and most have videos designed to ignite curiosity and generate awareness about Earth sciences and mineral resources. These kits offer an exciting opportunity for youth to explore the Earth’s structure, learn about minerals and rocks, engage in engineering challenges, and discover careers in the minerals industry.

It is our desire that GEMS Kits not only educate, but also ignite a passion for Earth science and inspires the next generation.

Feedback from educators and youth workers has been overwhelmingly positive. Danielle MacIntyre, Manager of the Muin Sipu Learning Centre in Bear River, Nova Scotia, expressed her excitement, stating, “The kits are amazing! The teachers and students are so excited to use them! Thank you so much for the opportunity, and we look forward to letting you know how the project goes!”

Kristen Gallant, Youth Coordinator of the Boys and Girls Club in Truro and Colchester, Nova Scotia, witnessed firsthand the enthusiasm of the youth while engaging with GEMS activities. She shared, “It’s really nice to see the youth engage with learning and get excited about it outside of school. Many of them have had a much different relationship with school after returning post-lockdown; it’s nice to see that those new difficulties they’re facing don’t stifle their ability and passion for learning outside of that environment.”

“They were very useful in the way that they covered different geology, engineering and mining activities [and] using the video to go along with it was a good way for students to learn,” said Lise Charbonneau, a junior high teacher at L’nu Sipuk Kina’muokuom (LSK) School in Indian Brook, Nova Scotia. Lise and her students took part in an activity using Play-Doh to show the different layers in the Earth’s crust. “It was a great way to demonstrate how different layers are different thicknesses. Most students, including those at LSK, learn well with hands-on activities.”

We are so thankful to the many organizations who supported the development and implementation of GEMS Kits. You helped us provide access to information about Earth science and the minerals industry in safe, fun, and interactive ways to over 2,500 youth. Mining Matters extends a special thank you to the following organizations: