To prepare the students for the museum visit we chose an American teaching program called Earth Materials. FOSS springs from the philosophy of the Lawrence Hall of Science, a philosophy that has guided much of science curriculum development for more than 30 years. The students enjoy their experiences with the Earth Materials Module . It gives them some basic knowledge in earth science. Upon completion of the module, the students are ready for a more in-depth experience with the rocks and minerals native to Norway as displayed at the museum.
Rocks are very diverse.
Students need multiple experiences with different minerals and rocks to be able to identify them in the field on their own. A traditional museum of earth science has both collections and exhibitions displaying a multitude of rocks and minerals, extending the classroom experience. They also have museum staff and geologists who usually know of nearby locations where students can observe and sometimes collect rocks and minerals. What is important here is that students can use this knowledge in their daily lives outside school. In the Norwegian curriculum for elementary schools, rocks, minerals and their properties are topics for 5th grade.