For Teachers
The Utah Geological Survey offers teaching kits, field trip itineraries, multimedia for the classroom, teacher workshops, and more. These resources are available to Utah teachers and are grade-specific when possible, matching the current Utah State Science Core Curriculum standards.
Teacher Resources
Speakers for the Classroom
Field Trip Resources
Speakers for the Classroom
Field Trip Resources
More Teaching Resources
General Earth Sciences
University of Utah
The University of Utah Dept. of Geology and Geophysics – Williamson Geoscience Communication graduate fellows have developed many hands-on teaching resources and field trips for 7-12 public school classrooms.
National Geographic Education
A collection of educational resources on many topics. Search the education resource library for lesson plans, activities, handouts, and more for many science-related topics. Earth science-related collections include environmental hazards, earth structure, extinction, the fossil record, rivers and streams, climate change, plate tectonics, mining and earth’s resources, the rock cycle, earthquakes, and much more.
Wetlands and Ecosystems
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Educator Resources
Resources for teachers including information about field trips, teacher workshops, and a learning library.
Utah’s Wonderful Wetlands, An Educator’s Activity Guide
An activity guide developed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to help educators prepare, conduct, and incorporate wetland field trips into their curriculum.
Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program Education Resources
Education resources from this program, a part of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, include a list of fun facts about Great Salt Lake, instructions on creating a brine shrimp ecosphere, and a downloadable Great Salt Lake activity book.
The Nature Conservancy Wings and Water Wetlands Education Program
Tour information, field guides, and classroom activities developed for 4th grade students along the Wasatch Front to learn about Great Salt Lake wetlands.
Audio Tours for Wetlands in Moab and Layton
Audio tours for two of The Nature Conservancy’s preserves in Utah: the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton and the Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve in Moab that can be used remotely or during visits to the preserves.
Ecosystem Services, EPA
Mini-lessons for 4th through 6th graders teaching ecosystem services concepts.
Wetlands Education Resources, EPA
EPA recommended educator resources, including activities, teaching guides, and education programs.
Earth’s Kids: Ponds and Wetlands Science
Educational and support resources for parents, teachers, and students.
Society of Wetland Scientists: Wetland-Related Educational Resources
Materials to facilitate the sharing of techniques, skills, tools, and ideas on and about wetland education. Content is intended for college and university professors, teaching assistants, and students.
Energy and Minerals
Utah Office of Energy Development
A collection of Utah SEEd-approved lesson plans on many energy and mineral topics for all grade levels. Topics include oil and gas, mining, renewable energy, and much more. The topics are sorted by grade level: elementary, middle, and secondary.
More resources coming soon!
Teacher Workshops and Professional Development
The UGS participates in selected teacher inservices and workshops. Contact Mark Milligan at 801-537-3326 or markmilligan@utah.gov for further information.
Earth Science Education (ESE)
Earth Science Education (ESE) is a resource for teachers to improve their earth science teaching methods in all grade levels. They have many courses across a variety of topics. Visit their website or contact Genevieve Atwood at 801-538-1896 or genevieveatwood@comcast.net.
Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah offers a variety of professional development opportunities to engage in science and engineering practices from the perspective of your students, working side-by-side with scientists to deepen your content knowledge. All Natural History Museum of Utah educator workshops are free for Utah public and charter school educators, and relicensure points or USBE credit will be given for each workshop attended.
Utah Science Teachers Association
Utah Science Teachers Association provides science endorsements for teachers. You can check the calendar to view upcoming courses or search through the different courses they offer.
American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
American Geosciences Institute (AGI) Geoscience Online Learning Initiative: With many geoscience programs now needing to quickly shift to online teaching, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) wants to make sure all faculty are aware of the 29 modules in the free-to-take Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) platform, which is a joint effort of AGI, AIPG, SEPM, and ASBOG. GOLI courses range in duration from 1 to 10 hours in length, addressing a range of geoscience topics and skills from writing in the geosciences to geoethics to advanced environmental geochemistry, among others. These modules are ready to go and available for your students right now.
UCAR Center for Science Education
UCAR’s Center for Science Education offers online and in-person workshops for teachers for all grade levels on various earth science subjects including climate, earth systems. View here.
They also offer content for students with videos, interactive pages, and games. View here.
Teacher Awards
Listed below are science teacher awards with cash incentives that are open for nominations. If you would like to add your organization’s award to this list, contact Mackenzie Cope at mcope@utah.gov.
- Teacher of the Year – Utah Geological Association (UGA)
- Teacher of the Year – American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
- Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Teacher Workshops and Professional Development
The UGS participates in selected teacher inservices and workshops. Contact Mark Milligan at 801-537-3326 or markmilligan@utah.gov for further information.
Earth Science Education (ESE)
Earth Science Education (ESE) is a resource for teachers to improve their earth science teaching methods in all grade levels. They have many courses across a variety of topics. Visit their website or contact Genevieve Atwood at 801-538-1896 or genevieveatwood@comcast.net.
Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah offers a variety of professional development opportunities to engage in science and engineering practices from the perspective of your students, working side-by-side with scientists to deepen your content knowledge. All Natural History Museum of Utah educator workshops are free for Utah public and charter school educators, and relicensure points or USBE credit will be given for each workshop attended.
Utah Science Teachers Association
Utah Science Teachers Association provides science endorsements for teachers. You can check the calendar to view upcoming courses or search through the different courses they offer.
American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
American Geosciences Institute (AGI) Geoscience Online Learning Initiative: With many geoscience programs now needing to quickly shift to online teaching, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) wants to make sure all faculty are aware of the 29 modules in the free-to-take Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) platform, which is a joint effort of AGI, AIPG, SEPM, and ASBOG. GOLI courses range in duration from 1 to 10 hours in length, addressing a range of geoscience topics and skills from writing in the geosciences to geoethics to advanced environmental geochemistry, among others. These modules are ready to go and available for your students right now.
UCAR Center for Science Education
UCAR’s Center for Science Education offers online and in-person workshops for teachers for all grade levels on various earth science subjects including climate, earth systems. View here.
They also offer content for students with videos, interactive pages, and games. View here.
Teacher Awards
Listed below are science teacher awards with cash incentives that are open for nominations. If you would like to add your organization’s award to this list, contact Mackenzie Cope at mcope@utah.gov.
- Teacher of the Year – Utah Geological Association (UGA)
- Teacher of the Year – American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
- Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
More teaching materials can be found under Popular Geology
