Background Information

The information presented below is designed to help teachers of grades K-12 incorporate earth science and anthropology into their classrooms. Used in conjunction with one another, the lesson plans, the GeoGallery of object images from the ISM’s geology and anthropology collections, and the background information should help a teacher comfortably plan and execute an effective earth science or anthropology lesson.

• The Mohs' Hardness Scale - a common measure of mineral hardness based on scratch tests.