Bringing the Classroom to the Quarry

October 29, 2009 -More than 120 local 6th grade students reported to class at Vulcan's 650-acre McCook Quarry for the 3rd Annual Earth Science Day. Through Adopt-A-School partners LaGrange School District #105 and Vulcan Materials Company, students learn how science, technology and engineering are used every day in their community.

"Our partnership enables students to experience their curriculum," said LaGrange School District #105 Science Curriculum Consultant Celeste Pearson, who worked with Vulcan to design special lessons aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards. "We have translated what students learn in class to give them a glimpse of what geology and earth science is really like."



Lessons focused on an array of rock-related topics, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from Vulcan's experts such as Principal Mining Engineer Jill Downer and Geologist Joe Crawford. Other instructors included Zach Hershey, Mike Saban, Bridget Hinde, Dan Barnstable, Danny Medina and Mike Rollinger. The Vulcan team taught several lessons including limestone formation, exploration and mining, and how quarried land can be reclaimed for future uses.

"Earth Science Day has become one of the year's most anticipated events with our 6th grade students," said Angie Lewandowski, a teacher at Hodgkins Elementary School. "We are grateful that the employees at McCook Quarry continue to provide our students this exciting experience."

Learning and exploring went hand-in-hand for the students, who came from Ideal, Hodgkins, Spring Avenue and Seventh Avenue Elementary Schools. Students enjoyed a bus tour of the quarry, examined limestone samples with fossils, performed quality control and environmental tests.

"We are proud to help enrich their learning experiences of the schoolchildren who represent the future of our community," said Jeff May, Regional Manager at Vulcan's McCook Quarry. "Bringing textbook pages to life in our 650-acre classroom is exciting and inspiring for everyone."

Students will use their quarry experience when they return to the classroom to design mine reclamation concepts for how quarry land could someday be used in a life after mining. Student teams will then develop presentations and share their ideas to company officials.

"It was really interesting to see how the quarry works," said Hodgkins Elementary School student Maria Almeida. "We learned new information on rocks, especially all of the cool uses for aggregate like toothpaste."

Earth Science Day is one of many community education and safety partnerships at McCook Quarry. Learn more at www.vmcMcCook.com.

Click here to see pictures of Earth Science Day.