English
EnglishOne of the goals of the RM@Schools project is the development of educational support packages called “Toolkits”, aimed mainly at 10-19 y.o. kids and students. Our Toolkits are freely available to all teachers, researchers and experts who wish to use them as a means of communicating and disseminating knowledge about Critical Raw Materials in their various facets, applications and challenges.
| Toolkit | Target age (years) | Learning Pathway | Learning objectives | Type of activity | Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A mine of ideas – Municipal Waste Management – What Is Worth to Know? | 11+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the importance of municipal waste management • Understanding the positive environmental impact of proper waste management |
Educational workshop about municipal waste management. | •Ecology •Biology •Economics |
| Active Mining in Minecraft | 14+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Recognizing the different facilities connected to a mine • Outlining the mining cycle and explaining the path from rock to metal concentrate • Preparing a 3D model of a real mine within the game Minecraft |
Ludo-educational activity about real-life mines to be carried out with the support of the video game Minecraft. | •Geography •Physics •Technology •Economics •Ecology |
| Ammonia Recovery from Wastewater | 14+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the nitrogen/ammonia problem and its solutions • Learning how an electrochemical system works and how to perform and experiment with it • Learning how to analyse a sample via tritation |
In this toolkit the students will build the electrochemical system and prepare the solutions, then perform the experiment in which they concentrate ammonia, and finally analyse the increase in concentration via titration. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry •Geography •Physics •Technology •Politics |
| Antisolvent Crystallization | 13+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Learning about separation processes applied for recycling of waste • Understanding the principle of antisolvent crystallization • Knowing how to carry out antisolvent crystallization practically • Being aware of the importance of recycling of everyday-life devices |
Lab activity on antisolvent crystallization, a procedure used for the recovery of rare earth elements from waste | •Technology •Circular economy |
| Assessing the Quality of Resources Used for Extraction of Calcium Carbonate | 16+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • Determine the concentration of calcium ions in the sample by performing complexometric titration • Calculate the calcium carbonate content using the chemical equation and stoichiometric ratios. |
Laboratory experiment to evaluate the amount of calcium carbonate from different eggshells. | •Chemistry •Technology |
| Augmented Reality meets RM | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Becoming more familiar with the topic of raw materials • Learning about mining activities • Learning about the importance of mineral raw materials in our lives |
Educational material for presenting an interactive introductory lesson about mining an raw materials with the use of Augmented Reality software. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry •Geography •Technology •Social sciences •Politics |
| Bioethanol from waste paper | 14+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Being aware of global warming • What is bioethanol and how to produce ethanol from waste paper • The preciousness of waste and how it can become a resource |
Laboratory experiment in which waste paper will be safely transformed into ethanol and then tested via an ethanol sensor or dye. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry |
| Blue Energy | 15+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • Explain how Blue Energy could help to use less raw materials • Describe how the various parties in the development of Blue Energy should cooperate with each other and which parties this involves |
Laboratory experience about Blue Energy (energy produced from the mixing of fresh and salt waters through reversed electrodialysis). | •Ecology •Chemistry •Geography •Physics •Technology |
| Copper: never ending recycling | 15+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Discovering what e-waste is and how it can be reused • Gaining familiarity with basic laboratory procedures and the concept of percent yield • Learning some chemical properties of a typical transition element |
Webquest and laboratory activity about the importance of copper and its correct recycling. | •Ecology •Chemistry •Computer science |
| CRMs Memory Card Game | 14+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Learning about CRMs economic importance and risk supply • Learning about CRMs minerals, manufacturing, properties and uses • Learning about CRMs environmental and social impacts |
A simple card game to teach the main properties and uses of several critical raw materials, as well as their importance nowadays in our technological society. | •Geology •Economy •Social Sciences •Politics |
| Eduraw | 14+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Learning about gold, silicon, iron and copper in history and as part of a circular economy • Learning about the recycling of gold, silicon, iron and copper |
The toolkit contains information about gold, silicon, iron and copper, and an interactive quiz-type game to perform with the whole class. | •Ecology •Chemistry •History •Physics •Technology •Economy |
| Electrochemistry lab experiences with critical raw materials | 15+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Understanding water electrolysis, the galvanic cell principle and Ohm's law • Knowing different ways of generating energy • Predicting the electrical properties of some materials (such as graphite) |
Laboratory experiments revolving around graphite's electrical conductivity and electrolysis. | •Chemistry •Physics •Technology |
| Find the elements – Treasure Hunt 2.0 | 12+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Facing a new and different kind of learning • Handling technological tools • Addressing new problems from new areas |
The activity works as a revisiting of the classic treasure hunt, but themed around Critical Raw Materials and their use in modern society. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry •Physics •Technology •Social sciences •Economics |
| Glass Raw Materials | 5+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Being introduced to the glass material • Learning which oxides are used to produce glass and which elements are used as glass colorants |
Activities to learn about the raw materials used in the creation of glass and colored glass. | •Chemistry •History |
| Gold Panning for Beginners | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the definition of density • Understanding the importance of density-based separation in raw material processing |
A simple experiment to help understanding the separation based on density as a mineral-processing technique. | •Ecology •Physics •Earth sciences |
| Growing Hydroponic Basil by Using Struvite | 15+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • Learning about plant biology, ecology and sustainability • Learning about nutrition and alternative energy |
Laboratory experience consisting in the hydroponic cultivation of basil plants by using recycled mineral water plastic bottles | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry •Circular economy |
| Lab-on-Paper Technology | 5+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • Economic advantages of the development of microfluidic devices on paper • Definition of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials |
Practical activities to help understanding some materials' behaviors, namely referring to hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials. | •Ecology •Physics •Technology •Social Sciences •Economics |
| Let’s Make Recycling Blue | 11+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Being introduced to the concept of Critical Raw Materials recovery • Understanding how chemistry can help us to find new solutions to real world problems |
Laboratory experiments for synthesizing Prussian Blue and for extracting metal ions from water. | •Chemistry •Ecology •Computer science |
| MemoRAEE | 11+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Being introduced to the concepts of WEEE and WBA, their management and recycling • Learning the role of Critical Raw Materials and Rare Earth Elements in electronic devices |
Educational card game to teach about WEEE and electronics waste disposal. | •Ecology •Geology •Chemistry •Social Sciences |
| MineralCheck | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Knowing some basic definitions (e.g. crystal, mineral, mineral resource) • Using the correct procedure for describing minerals • Classifying minerals according to their use in a modern society |
Learning materials for presenting a lesson and setting up a practical activity about the correct classification of minerals and rocks. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry •Geography •Physics •Technology |
| Modern devices – Yes please! What about mining? | 14+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Becoming aware that everything around us is made of raw materials • Realizing that Europe is highly dependent on global production of raw material • Analyzing the impact of circular economy strategies in the field of raw materials on a company |
Information and materials to kick-start a classroom discussion about what we use raw materials for, what items require them and whether these materials are found in Europe. | •Geography •Technology •Social sciences •Economics •Politics |
| Pee on Your Plants | 15+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • Understanding ground depletion and learning solutions for this problem • Learning about recovering nutrients from waste water streams • Getting familiar with growing plants/crops |
Laboratory activity to test the effectiveness of urine and waste water as a means for plant growth instead than as simple waste. | •Ecology •Biology •Geography •Economy |
| Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater | 15+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Knowing about the recycling of P from wastewaters to reduce the exploitation of natural resources • Learning how wastewaters are a poweful nutrient resource for agriculture and the the environment |
Laboratory activity planned in one part as theoretical training under the guidance of the teacher and two parts as practical activities performed by the students themselves. | •Ecology •Agriculture •Biology •Chemistry •Economics •Physics •Technology |
| Preventing Eutrophication by Phosphate Adsorption from Wastewater | 15+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the phosphate problem and solutions for it • Learning about phosphate adsorption and desorption • Getting familiar with different separation concepts of precipitation, filtration and adsorption, and with specrophotometry |
Laboratory activity where students will make their own adsorption compound, iron(hydr)oxide, use it to adsorb phosphate from a solution, then desorb the phosphate again and measure spectrophotometrically the concentration of phosphate. | •Ecology •Biology •Chemistry |
| Printed Meteorological Station – printed sensors on paper | 15+ | Substitution - Learning Pathway | • The advantages of the use of small printed sensors • The principle of transduction and how to use it to make measurements • How functional inks work and their advantages |
Laboratory activity where the students make their own printed sensors and perform a calibration curve. | •Chemistry •Electronics •Physics •Technology |
| Proving the Law of Conservation of Mass | 16+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Apply the principles of redox reactions; • Observe various types of chemical reactions and correlate the observations with these reactions; • Observe the signs of a chemical reaction and assess how the conditions of the experiment affect the end products of the reaction; • Analyse the composition of the air and the reactive substances contained therein. |
Experiment to test the law of conservation of mass using magnesium. | •Chemistry •Technology |
| Pyrotechnics Lab Experiences with Raw Materials | 14+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Knowing the history of pyrotechnics • Knowing the main agents involved in any combustion reaction • Understanding the difference between color emission by luminescence and incandescence |
This toolkit will give the students the opportunity to study pyrotechnics reactions, as well as the exploration of the colour production in every chemical reaction dedicated to visual spectacles such as fireworks or magic shows. | •Physics •Chemistry |
| RAWsiko – Materials around us (Digital Version) | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the distribution of critical raw materials in the world • Knowing the main uses and applications of critical raw materials • Being aware of the importance of access to CRMs for the production of everyday-life devices |
Educational digital multiplayer game for teaching about critical raw materials distribution and utilization. | •Geography •Politics •Technology •Economy |
| Re-use Creatively! Geopolymer Pot | 14+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Learning what geopolymers are and why they are important for the circular economy • Learning about the environmental risks of pollution form the fashion industry • Being able to produce geopolymer cassettes under laboratory conditions |
Laboratory activity to create a geopolymer pot using old, unused textiles. | •Ecology •Chemistry •Earth sciences •Crafts |
| Recycling Metallic Packaging | 14+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the long recycling life of metals • Enhancing the awareness on the importance of metal recycling • Learning about redox processes and electroplating |
This toolkit will introduce students to the issues of metallic packaging through four simple experiments. | •Chemistry •History of materials |
| Recycling of silicon-based PV modules | 14+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Learning about photovoltaic energy and silicon PV panels • Understanding why silicon PV panels are sustainable and how they can be recycled • Understanding the importance of the recovery of materials |
Laboratory activity in which the pupils will assemble and then disassemble a PV mini-panel in order to understand the basic principles behind the important recycling process of PV waste. | •Ecology •Physics •Technology |
| Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater | 16+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the precipitation of heavy metals • Understanding clean water technology and the waste it produces |
Lab experience in three steps | •Ecology •Chemistry |
| Renewable keratin wastes for use in metal mining | 16+ | Circular Economy - Learning Pathway | • Knowing the structure of wool fibers and the characteristics of proteins (keratin in particular) • Learning techniques for keratin extraction and for identifying the presence of a protein in a solution • Knowing the main techniques for recycling wool |
Five laboratory activities related to the extraction of keratin from wool waste, its identification and its use, supported by many tutorial videos and an in-depth dossier. | •Chemistry •Biology •Economics •Ecology •History |
| Repository of Ideas – A Few Words about Reclamation and Revitalisation | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Understanding the concepts of reclamation and revitalisation • Acquiring the ability to recognise reclamation and revitalisation areas • Knowing the role of the last stage of the mining process |
Educational video to introduce the topic reclamation and revitalization of post-industrial areas. | •Ecology •Biology •Geography |
| ResourceRation | 12+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Being able to name examples of finite and renewable resources and to explain the difference • Analyzing different strategies to fulfill the needs of our society without overusing our resources |
Educational game about resource conservation and the tragedy of the commons in the light of today's environmental challenges. | •Ecology •Geography •Social sciences •Economics •Ethics •Politics |
| RM@Art | 12+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Better interact with your surroundings • Express emotions and needs creatively • Practical usage of natural resource |
This toolkit is designed to demonstrate some of the basic concepts of ores and minerals utilization in making colors. | •Geography •Arts •Chemistry •Social Sciences |
| RockCheck | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Identifying and classifying different rocks • Determining the processes needed for rock formation • Evaluating the importance of rocks as raw materials for our everyday life |
App for smartphones that can be used, in parallel with activities contained in the toolkit, as a tool for guided rock classification. | •Ecology •Geography •Technology •Social sciences •Economics |
| RockCheck Meets AR | 10+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Identifying and classifying different rocks using Augmented Reality • Getting in touch with new, digital educational formats |
Augmented Reality mobile app to be used in conjunction with the RockCheck toolkit | •Ecology •Geography •Technology •Social Sciences •Economics |
| Separation of copper and iron – two different approaches | 16+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Learning about chemical principles like solubility, reaction equations, qualitative analysis, the law of mass action, acid-base reactions and equilibria • Reflecting on the relation between waste treatment, economy and environment |
Two laboratory experiments to separate copper from iron through different procedures. | •Chemistry and industrial chemistry •Economy •Ecology |
| Struvite from Urine | 14+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Possessing basic knowledge of the nitrogen and phosphate cycle as a result of human activity • Understand the importance of a more sustainable way of recovering these resources • Having basic knowledge of the chemical principles of making struvite and colorimetric phosphate determination • Setting up an experimental design to test their struvite and interpreting the results |
Learning materials and lab experiments about the properties of struvite and its recovery from urine. | •Environment •Biology •Chemistry •Geography •Physics •Technology |
| Sus-GAME-ability | 8+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Being able to explain the terms "sustainability" and "environmental pollution" • Being able to name sustainable measures against environmental pollution |
A pre-packaged lesson and a simple interactive browser game for teachers to introduce the topics of sustainability and environmental pollution. | •Ecology •Biology •Geography •Technology |
| The Rare Earth Element Wheel | 13+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Being introduced to the concept of WEEE, WEEE management and WEEE recycling in circular economy • Discovering 7 Rare Earth Elements in 7 different electronic devices |
Practical activity where students can build by their own the Rare Earth Element Wheel and perform a simple activity with it. | •Ecology •Geology •Chemistry •Social sciences |
| The Recycling Goose Game | 8-13 | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Learning basic rules of waste segregation • Recognizing domestic waste as a source of raw materials • Developing a sense of civic responsibility and teamwork |
Educational game based on the traditional "Game of the Goose", but themed and featuring questions and activities about recycling and a correct waste segregation. | •Ecology •Technology •Economics |
| Urban Mining: Recycling of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Chasing Raw Materials | 14+ | Recycling - Learning Pathway | • Creating awareness about the diffusion of LIBs and the problem of LIBs waste • Creating awareness about the employment of CRMs in the production of LIBs • Informing about the risks of LIBs waste for humans and the environment |
Lab activity about the recovery of Lithium and Cobalt from the LiCoO2 cathode of a Lithium-Ion Battery. | •Environment •Chemistry •Technology •Economy |
| Virtual Reality – Put Your Feet in Open Pit | 12+ | Exploration & Mining - Learning Pathway | • Introducing the main technological processes used in a mining plant • Understanding the real scale of a mining plant to emphasize the importance of circular economy and sustainable resource management |
Guided VR tour of an open-sky mining site, to show the various phases of the real-world extraction process of rocks and minerals. | •Ecology •Physics •Technology |
| Who Wants to Be a RM Ambassador? | 14+ | Raw Materials and Circular Economy | • Acknowledging the importance of Critical Raw Materials in our lives • Getting to learn in a light-hearted and stress-free way |
Who Wants to Be a RM Ambassador is a computer program simulating a trivia game with questions of increasing difficulty concerning the origins and ways to identify minerals, the everyday products made by raw materials, divided into three stages and with built-in scoring and help systems. | •Ecology •Technology •Chemistry •Geography |