Workshop Helps VVSD Teachers 'Rock' in the Classroom

EDITOR'S NOTE — The following is a news release from Valley View School District.

Three teachers were among educators from across the State who participated in the Illinois Teachers Workshop: "Rocks, Minerals & Mining in Today’s Society," presented by the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP). 

Joanne Reiss, a teacher at and Rita Dybas from , both of which are in Bolingbrook, and Steve Stefanski from all gained new scientific insight and learned about various minerals and aggregates including stone, sand and gravel. The workshop was held in mid-July at.

The three VVSD teachers joined 30 elementary, middle and high school teachers for lectures and hands-on activities presented by government, industry and academic professionals exploring Illinois geology, fossils, aggregate mining and rocks and minerals used to make common products.

Hands-on activities, such as cookie mining, birdseed mining and layer cake core drilling, allowed teachers to experience ways to engage students in learning about geological processes and mining economics. 

During field trips, teachers visited the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area in Lemont and the Gaylord Building in Lockport. They also went to the Vulcan Materials Company underground stone mine in Bolingbrook, the Hanson Material Service’s Thornton quarry and Hanson’s Romeoville quarry.

All of the information and activities presented, as well as numerous educational materials provided to the teachers, were designed to have practical applications for students in their classrooms. Teachers completing the workshop received continuing professional development unit credit and optional graduate degree hours from Illinois State University.