Treasure Hunt in Michigan

Author: Marty Mater

Lesson Overview: Michigan’s rich natural

resources have greatly influenced where people

live and what work they do. In this lesson

students locate Michigan’s resources, learn how

they have been used, and consider the

consequences of those uses.

Essential Questions:

What are the valuable natural resources

in Michigan?

Where are they located?

What industries have developed because of the natural resources of Michigan?

Objectives: Students will be able to:

Locate natural resources of Michigan today

Describe the uses of natural resources in Michigan and the Great Lakes Region

and the consequences of these uses.

Explain how Michigan’s natural

resources influenced the development of

mining, lumbering, and manufacturing.

Subject/Grade Level: Social Studies, 3-4

Student Materials (Included)

Student worksheets: Uses of Michigan’s

Natural Resources; Michigan’s

Natural Resource Map; Human

Activities; Treasure Hunt in Michigan

Student resources: Resource Information Cards; General Land Uses in the Great

Lakes (map); Location of Resources in

Michigan

Provided by teacher: Michigan maps;

colored pencils

Teacher Materials:

Resource labels

Answer keys

Resource Background notes

Treasure Hunt PPT

Teacher Background Notes

Important natural resources in the state of

Michigan include water, fertile soil (for

farming and forests), minerals (iron, copper,

limestone, gypsum), and salt. Oil and natural

gas are also found in Michigan. While other

states had mineral and other natural resources,

Michigan had an additional advantage as a

Great Lakes state. Water transportation is the

least expensive means to move heavy bulky

natural resources, such as iron ore and copper.

Many of Michigan’s minerals were near the

Great Lakes and it was possible to ship them

by lake freighter long before towns in other

states had railways or highways. The

combination of natural resources and the water

transportation to ship resources and goods has

benefited Michigan.

See also Resource Background notes

Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations 3-G1.0.1 Use thematic maps to identify and

describe the physical and human characteristics

of Michigan

3-G4.0.1 Describe major kinds of economic

activity in Michigan today and explain factors

influencing the location of these economic

activities.

3-G5.0.1 Locate natural resources in Michigan

and explain the consequences of their use.

3-E1.0.3 Analyze how Michigan’s location and

natural resources influenced its economic

development (i.e. How waterways and other

natural resources have influenced economic

activities)

National Geography Standards

Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places Standard 16: The changes that occur in the

meaning, use, distribution, and importance of

resources

Procedure:

1. Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students. Pass one set of 12 resource information cards

(Resource #1) and Worksheet #1, “Uses of Michigan’s Natural Resources” to each group.

Students take turns reading the resource cards, listening for the uses of the resources, and

completing the first two columns on worksheet #1 as a group. (Alternatively: set up samples of

resources with resource card and let groups visit each display to fill in worksheet)

2. Bring the class together and, using the answer key, discuss the uses of each resource. Students

may predict where in Michigan these resources may be found to prepare for activity #6 below.

3. Show the class Resource #2, “General Land Uses in the Great Lakes” and discuss the legend/

key. Distribute Map/worksheet #2, “Michigan’s Natural Resources” to each student and ask

them to color and label forest and agriculture land, and to make a key for the map. Discuss where

urban areas are located and why they are located there

4. Ask groups to suggest answers to the following questions about the human activities (and related

economic development) that results from the use of the natural resources in these land areas:

forest, agriculture, and urban areas:

a. What are the human activities that occur for this land use?

b. How do the water ways and natural resources influence how humans use the land and

what they produce on this land? (Economic activities.)

c. What might be the consequences of using the land in this way?

Develop a class chart of this information or use Worksheet #3: Human Activities, Economic

Development, and Consequences of Land Use. See answer key with possible answers. (Not all of

these answers need to be written to gain the major ideas.) Boldface words are key economic concepts.

5. Distribute a set of printed address labels and Resource # 3 to each student. Alternatively, use

blank labels and ask students to write the resources they remember before passing out Resource

#3. (Possible assessment activity)

Direct them to find the locations of the natural resources using Student Resources #1 and # 3 “Location

of Resources in Michigan” and a Michigan map (teacher-supplied road map or Michigan map with

major cities in MI.) Students can complete worksheet 1 and place their printed or handwritten labels on

their own Map/Worksheet #2. Note: Gypsum is found in several places; hence 2 labels.

6. Discuss the following with the class or use student worksheet #4, “Treasure Hunt in

Michigan” a. What are our most valuable natural resources today? (List all but copper, coal and gold)

b. Which of these resources are non-renewable, that is, we can use them up? (copper, gold,

coal, gypsum, oil, natural gas, gravel, limestone, iron, salt, sand) Some, like copper, are

recyclable.

c. Which of these resources are least valuable in Michigan today? (copper, coal, gold and

silver are not plentiful enough in Michigan or useable enough today to be very valuable)

d. Which of our valuable resources are used in manufacturing? (gypsum, oil, limestone,

iron, gravel, sand, timber)

e. Where are most manufacturing plants located in Michigan? (urban areas, lower

peninsula)

f. How do manufacturing plants get the resources they need? (shipping on the Great Lakes,

trucking on our highways)

7. Group assignment: Using the maps, student resources, and what students have learned, each

group should produce a poster, picture book, or skit about one of the valuable resources in

Michigan. Include location of resource; at least one use; a flow chart of economic activities

associated with the resource (e.g., forests >paper mills >newspapers; water >fishing industry

>restaurants), and the location of an economic activity. Students should be encouraged to pursue

additional materials that tell the story of Michigan’s resources and how they are used. Possible

additional information could include consequences of misuse of resource.

Assessment

1. Alternative Activity #5 may be used an assessment.

2. The completed map (Activity #6) is a formative assessment of the student’s capacity to locate

natural resources of Michigan. (Should include resources in correct locations; correct land uses

with legend)

3. The poster, skit or picture book may be used to assess student conceptual knowledge. (Should

include information about resource and resulting economic activities)

4. Individual writing activity: Each student should choose a resource and produce either a poster or

picture book which describes location (both where it is found, and where it is used), at least one

use, and a human or economic activity resulting from this resource (e.g., iron is found in western

upper peninsula, and is shipped to the manufacturing plants in southeast Michigan for producing

cars). Encourage students to pursue additional materials that tell the story of Michigan’s

resources and how they are used.

References

General Land Uses of The Great Lakes map: Adapted from The Great Lakes: An Environmental

Atlas and Resource Book. Jointly produced by the Government of Canada and the U. S,

Environmental Protection Agency, 1995. More information can be found at

www.on.ec.gc.ca/great-lakes-atlas/intro.htm

Resource Background Notes:

1. Fertile Soil and Forests. Good soil was brought from Canada and northern Michigan by the glaciers

to southern Michigan. Agriculture is Michigan’s 2nd most valuable industry because of this soil and a

varied climate due to the Great Lakes. Michigan is number one in production of tart cherries,

blueberries, cucumbers for pickles, and many other crops. Even in the northern lower and Upper

Peninsula, the soil and climate encourages the growth of forests, another valuable resource in

Michigan. Wood is used in the manufacturing of paper and wood products, and can be used for

generating energy and as fuel.

2. Copper was deposited in this area nearly 1 billion years ago. It is one of the first metals known to

humans and one of the most useful. It is the best low-cost conductor of electricity (wiring) and heat

(pots and pans). It is easy to shape, and will not rust (pipes and plumbing fixtures). It is a

nonrenewable resource. The Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan has produced over 14 billion pounds

since 1845, but mining ceased in 1969. Arizona leads the nation in copper production. Copper

deposits are located in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

3. Gold was deposited about 2.5 billion years ago. It is used for money, jewelry and dental work.

There is little gold left in the Ropes Mine in the southwestern UP, and it’s not being mined at present

because it is too expensive to recover.

Silver has also been found in Michigan, usually along with the copper mines in northern Michigan.

4. Soft Coal was formed in the central Lower Peninsula about 300 million years ago, from the remains

of plants and animals. It is used for fuel (mostly for electric power plants), heat, and as coke in the

manufacturing process (mainly of steel). Any coal remaining in Michigan is too poor in quality to be

economically useful now.

5. Gypsum is a non-metallic mineral, found in rock form. Evaporation of the saltwater seas that

covered Michigan 300 million years ago was responsible for Michigan’s gypsum deposits, which are

among the richest in the world. Gypsum has many uses. As a building material, it was used in the

Pyramids, and is used today as plaster, wallboard and lath. It is used in cement, and in the production

of toothpaste and chalk. Another important use is in making molds used in the manufacturing of tile,

plate glass, and car parts. Gypsum is produced commercially from open pit quarries near Tawas City

and Alabaster in Iosco County and from underground mines near Grand Rapids.

6. Oil and Natural Gas were the result of the decay of plants and animals millions of years ago in

central lower Michigan, and oil is now considered one of the most valuable natural resources in the

world. The most common use of oil is energy production (fuel and heat), but it is also used in many

common household items. The mid-Michigan area is a source for both oil and natural gas. Since they

are nonrenewable resources, many think the world’s supply is rapidly running out. The Middle East

countries have about 56% of the known oil sources, but Alaska, Louisiana, California, and Texas

have significant oil.

7. Gravel deposits occur throughout the state, and have remained commercially productive throughout

the 20th century. In the late 19th century, quarries at Grindstone City, near the tip of the Thumb,

supplied grindstones for sharpening tools. Sandstone, from Hillsdale and Jackson counties and the

south shore of Lake Superior, is used as a building material. Sand and gravel have been used in large

quantities for building roads and making cement. Gravel is mined in many local places, especially

near urban regions on the east coast of the Lower Peninsula and the tip of the Thumb area.

8. Limestone was formed about 360 million years ago from a calcium carbonate solution when water

evaporated. It is used in cement and for building, and is also an ingredient in many manufacturing

processes (tanning hides, neutralizing acids, making steel and glass). Rogers City has the largest

limestone quarry in the world.

9. . Water is abundant in Michigan. No one in Michigan is farther than about 80 miles from a Great

Lake, and there are 11,000 inland lakes and 36,500 miles of rivers in Michigan. Water is used by

industry, for irrigation, for recreation, and for private use. In addition, of the 37 million people that

live in the Great Lakes watershed, 20 million of them get their drinking water directly from the Great

Lakes.

10. Iron is found in certain kinds of rock, or ore, especially near Negaunee in the Upper Peninsula. It can

be welded when hot, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn out into fine wires. It is easily magnetized.

Iron makes up about 5% of the earth’s crust. The formation of iron ores began about 2 billion years

ago, during the period of volcanoes. Its most common use is in making steel. It is a nonrenewable

resource, but there are enough known iron deposits to supply the world’s needs for at least 320 years.

11. Salt was formed in Michigan about 410 million years ago, when salt seas covered the Great Lakes

area. It is mined under Detroit and Port Huron. It is used for cooking, for icy roads in winter, for

preserving, and mostly for manufacturing processing. There is enough salt under Michigan (mostly in

the southeast) to supply the world for thousands of years. Salt is mined under Detroit and Port

Huron.

12. Sand was deposited by glaciers from 10,000 to 50,000 years ago. Wind and wave action built up the

largest stretch of fresh water dunes in the world along the Lake Michigan coast of the Lower

Peninsula, about 4500 years ago. Sand is used for glass and in foundries to make molds for the auto

industry. Sand mining is currently a big issue in Michigan, because sand dunes are considered a

nonrenewable resource unless we have another ice age. Sand is mined along the Lake Michigan

coast of the Lower Peninsula.

Student Worksheet #1

Uses of Michigan’s Natural Resources

Resource name Uses for the resource Location of resource

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Answer Key Worksheet #1

Uses of Michigan’s Natural Resources

Resource name Uses for this resource Location

1. Fertile Soil

and Forests

Agriculture, forestry

Agriculture: Southern

Michigan

Forestry: Northeast Lower, UP

2. Copper Pipes, wires, pennies,

cookware Northwest UP

3. Gold/Silver Money, dental work, jewelry Southwest UP

4. Coal Heating, electrical generation Mid-Michigan

5. Gypsum Plaster, wallboard, cement,

chalk Grand Rapids Area, Iosco Cty

6. Oil and Natural

Gas

Heating

Fuels Mid-Michigan

7. Gravel Road building

sharpening tools East Coast, Thumb

8. Limestone Building,

Cement, manufacturing Rogers City

9. Water

Drinking, irrigation

Recreation, manufacturing,

shipping

Great Lakes, inland lakes

10. Iron Steel Negaunee, UP

11. Salt Roads

Preserving, manufacturing Under Detroit and Port Huron

12. Sand Glass, cement, foundries,

road building

Student Resource #1

1. Fertile Soil and Forests. Good soil

was brought to Michigan by the

glaciers. Farming is an important

industry in Michigan. Our state grows

more tart cherries, blueberries, and

cucumbers than any other state. Soil and

climate encourages the growth of

forests. Wood is used in the

manufacturing of paper and other wood

products. It also is used for making

energy and as fuel.

2. Copper has been in Michigan for

nearly 1 billion years. It is one of the

most useful metals known to humans.

Copper is used for wiring, pipes, and

to make pots and pans. It is a

nonrenewable resource. The

Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan has

produced over 14 billion pounds since

1845. Arizona leads the nation in

copper production now

3. Gold has been in Michigan for about

2.5 billion years. It is used for money,

jewelry and dental work. There is only

a little gold left in the Ropes Mine in

the southwestern UP.

Silver has also been found in

Michigan, usually along with the copper

mines in northern Michigan.

4. Soft Coal was formed in the

central Lower Peninsula about 300

million years ago. It is used for fuel,

and heat. It is also used for making

steel and electricity. Any coal

remaining in Michigan is too poor in

quality to be useful now.

5. Gypsum is a mineral found in rocks.

Michigan’s deposits are among the

richest in the world. It has many uses.

As a building material, it was used in

the Pyramids, and is used today as

plaster and wallboard. It is also used in

cement, toothpaste and chalk. Gypsum

is produced near Tawas City in Iosco

County and from underground mines

near Grand Rapids.

6. Oil and Natural Gas are found in

central Lower Michigan. Oil is one of

the most valuable natural resources in

the world. The most common uses of

oil are fuel and heat. It is also used in

many household items. Oil and

natural gas are nonrenewable

resources. The Middle East has about

56% of the world's oil. Alaska,

Louisiana, California, and Texas have

oil also.

7. Gravel is found all over the state.

Stones for sharpening tools come from

the Thumb. Sandstone, from the shores

of Lake Superior, is used for building.

Sand and gravel is used for making

roads and cement.

8. Limestone was formed about 360

million years in Michigan. It is used

in cement and for building. It is also

used in tanning hides and making

steel and glass. Rogers City has the

largest limestone quarry in the world.

9. Water is plentiful in Michigan. No

one is farther than 80 miles from a

Great Lake. There are 11,000 inland

lakes and 36,500 miles of rivers in

Michigan. Water is used by industry,

for irrigation, for recreation, and for

private use. 37 million people live near

the Great Lakes. 20 million get their

drinking water directly from the Great

Lakes.

10. Iron is found in rock, called ore,

especially near Negaunee in the

Upper Peninsula. It is easily

magnetized. Iron makes up about 5%

of the earth’s crust. The formation of

iron ores began about 2 billion years

ago. Its most common use is in

making steel. It is a nonrenewable

resource, but there are enough known

iron deposits to supply the world’s

needs for at least 320 years.

11. Salt was formed in Michigan about

410 million years ago. It is mined under

Detroit and Port Huron. It is used for

cooking, for icy roads, and for

manufacturing. There is enough salt

under southeast Michigan to last many

years.

12. Sand was brought by glaciers

10,000 to 50,000 years ago. Wind

and waves made the largest fresh

water dunes in the world along the

Lake Michigan coast. Sand is used

for glass and to make molds for cars.

Sand mining is a big issue in

Michigan, because sand dunes are a

nonrenewable resource.

Adapted from The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book jointly produced by the Government of Canada and the

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1995

Student Resource #2

Map / Worksheet #2

Student Resource #3

Location of Resources in Michigan

1. Soil is generally more fertile in southern Michigan than in

northern Michigan.

2. Forests, once covering most of Michigan, are the dominant

land cover of the Upper Peninsula and the northeast of the

Lower Peninsula.

3. Copper deposits are located in the Keweenaw Peninsula

4. Gold has been mined in the southwestern part of the Upper

Peninsula.

5. Gypsum deposits are located in the Tawas City area and in

Grand Rapids.

6. Oil and natural gas deposits and coal are located in the

central Lower Peninsula.

7. Gravel is mined in many local places, especially near

urban regions on the east coast of the Lower Peninsula and

the tip of the Thumb area that have access by lake

transportation to urban regions where large amounts of

gravel and cement are used.

8. Limestone is mined near Rogers City.

9. Water is an important throughout Michigan, with the Great

Lakes, inland lakes, underground reservoirs, and rivers

providing a great natural resource. A major problem is to

protect the water resources from over use and pollution.

10. Iron is mined near Negaunee in the Upper Peninsula.

11. Salt is mined under Detroit and Port Huron.

12. Sand is mined along the Lake Michigan coast of the

Lower Peninsula for use in the foundry and glass industries.

Copper

Gold

Iron

Water

Gypsum

Fertile Soil

Coal Oil

Natural Gas

Gravel

Gypsum

Limestone

Salt

S a n

d

S a n

d

Answer Key for Map / Worksheet 2

Student Worksheet #3

Human Activities, Economic Development, and Consequences of Land Use Forest Agriculture Urban

Human

Activities

Influence of

Great Lakes

and rivers on

Economic

Activities

Consequences

of Land Use

Answer Key Worksheet #3

Human Activities, Economic Development, and Consequences of Land Use Forest Agriculture Urban

Human

Activities

Tourism, camping, parks, recreation,

hiking and sports

Lumbering, wood products

(furniture)

Mining of resources (gold, oil, iron,

etc.)

Growing crops (food)

Grazing animals Fertilizing, clearing land

Manufacturing: industries making

products based on materials mined

Construction: sewer systems,

industry, landscaping, homes, roads

Influence of

Great Lakes

and rivers on

Economic

Activities

Rivers and lakes used for shipping,

paper mills, and recreation

Rivers help in draining land; water

for crops (irrigation) and animals;

shipping grain

Water used for industry, drinking;

Great Lakes used for shipping both

raw materials and products

Consequences

of Land Use

Decrease in forest cover (until

reforested areas grow)

Dirt roads for logging equipment may

erode land

Changes in natural habitats for plants

and animals

Valuable Timber Industry

Water pollution from fertilizers and

weed killers; Rural landscapes may

replace forested areas.

Valuable Farming Industry

Change of drainage, pollution of

water system (from sewage, detergent,

oil products), air pollution.

Homes for laborers needed for

industry

GOLD COPPER GOLD COPPER

COAL OIL COAL OIL

GYPSUM GRAVEL GYPSUM GRAVEL

GYPSUM IRON GYPSUM IRON

LIMESTONE SAND LIMESTONE SAND

WATER SALT WATER SALT

NATURAL GAS FERTILE SOIL NATURAL GAS FERTILE SOIL

GOLD COPPER GOLD COPPER

COAL OIL COAL OIL

GYPSUM GRAVEL GYPSUM GRAVEL

GYPSUM IRON GYPSUM IRON

LIMESTONE SAND LIMESTONE SAND

WATER SALT WATER SALT

NATURAL GAS FERTILE SOIL NATURAL GAS FERTILE SOIL

Teacher Resource:

These labels are formatted to print on return address labels (e.g., Avery 8167)

Cut apart for each student or group

Treasure Hunt in Michigan

Discuss these questions in your group and write your answers here:

1. Which of these resources are non-renewable, that is, we can use them up?

2. Which of these resources are least valuable in Michigan today?

3. Which of our valuable resources are used in manufacturing?

4. Where are most manufacturing plants located in Michigan?

5. How do manufacturing plants get the resources they need?

Student Worksheet #4

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

Treasure Hunt in Michigan

Discuss these questions in your group and write your answers here:

1. Which of these resources are non-renewable, that is, we can use them up?

2. Which of these resources are least valuable in Michigan today?

3. Which of our valuable resources are used in manufacturing?

4. Where are most manufacturing plants located in Michigan?

5. How do manufacturing plants get the resources they need?

Answer Key Worksheet #4

Copper

Gold

Gypsum

Oil

Natural gas

Gravel

Limestone

Iron

Salt

Sand

________________________

________________________ Copper

Coal

Gold

Silver

Gypsum

Oil

Limestone

Iron

Gravel

Sand

Shipping on our Great Lakes

Trucking on our highways

Near urban areas

Mostly in the Lower Peninsula