Downloadable Teaching Materials
Activities related to the following topics are available to download for classroom use. All topics denote grade level and include classroom activities and worksheets. To get access to the answer key, email KGS Outreach at kgssocials@ku.edu using your professional email account.
Farmers, ranchers, and communities across western Kansas depend on the Ogallala aquifer as an underground water source, but it has an uncertain future due to years of pumping. These activities for middle and high school audiences teach students how aquifers are formed, where Kansans get their water, and how sustainable pumping of aquifers could be achieved.
While many people don’t link earthquakes to Kansas, the state has a long history of occurrences, both natural and induced by human events. These activities give middle and high school students the opportunity to track modern and historical earthquakes and learn where they are most likely to occur in Kansas.
During the Ice Age, glaciers reached as far south as Kansas. But how do we know they were here, and what was their effect on the landscape? These activities are designed help students in fourth grade through middle school learn about the glaciers of Kansas, understand how glaciers change the landscape, and make their own glacial model using slime.
Geologic Time Scale for Kansas
This map is available as an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet (Special Map 10). Single copies sheet are free; multiple copies are 10 cents each. Contact the Publications Sales Office for more information. An Adobe Acrobat version is also available (1 MB).
Geology Powerpoint Presentations
The following PowerPoint presentations can be used to teach about geology to elementary students.
An accessible version of the documents on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact the KGS editor at kgs-editor@ku.edu to request the document be made available in an accessible format.