The secret of rocks
The geological teaching material supports learning objectives in geography and history.

“The secret of rocks” is a compilation of teaching materials intended for teachers and their pupils at upper primary and secondary levels (pupils aged 10 to 15). it provides quality material and illustrations to address the topic of the history of rocks and our landscape and to use to awaken their interest in the wonders of geology. As it is freely accessible, this information is also available to all other interested persons.
The teaching material mainly focuses on places familiar to its target audience and adds a geological touch. Based on an explanatory sheet and an activity sheet, the teaching materials can easily be incorporated into classroom activities and on-site activities. Since September 2021, this offer has been completed by a worksheet for pupils, which allows them to become familiar with the geodata provided free of charge by swisstopo. These sheets are organised by canton and can be downloaded from the list below.
Each download includes:
- An explanatory sheet giving simple explanations and accompanied by illustrations.
- An activity sheet combining experiments and some aspects to consider in the classroom as well as fieldtrip suggestions and an answer sheet.
- A worksheet for pupils and an answer sheet. (new since September 2021)
In the explanatory sheets and the activity sheets, certain words are marked blue. These words are defined in a glossary, which will soon be integrated in this page.
At present, the teaching materials include one feature per canton in the canton’s official language(s). We are always grateful for any suggestions and comments you may have: infogeol@swisstopo.ch. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sheets in French
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Berne – Fissure cristalline de Gerstenegg
Du cristal à la montagne, de la montagne au cristal !
PDF, 11 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Fribourg – Fribourg
Un site naturel remarquable !
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Genève – Le Salève
Bienvenue sur le balcon des Genevois !
PDF, 10 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Jura – Traces de dinosaures de Courtedoux
Des empreintes à travers les temps géologiques !
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Neuchâtel – Creux du Van
Un amphithéâtre naturel dans les roches calcaires !
PDF, 11 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Valais – St- Léonard
Un joyau bleu turquoise au coeur du Valais !
PDF, 11 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Vaud – Les salines de Bex
Une montagne de sel en terres vaudoises !
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, French -
Berne, Fribourg, Vaud – Les Gastlosen
Laissez-vous séduire par les tours et les aiguilles des « Inhospitalières » !
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, French
Sheets in German
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Aargau – Das Fricktal
Fossilien im Laufe der geologischen Zeitalter!
PDF, 12 page(s), 22 MB, German -
Appenzell Ausserrhoden – Chastenloch
Eine von Gletschern aus früheren Zeiten geprägte Landschaft!
PDF, 10 page(s), 22 MB, German -
Appenzell Innerrhoden – Hoher Kasten
Ein Panoramablick!
PDF, 10 page(s), 22 MB -
Basel – Brislachallmet
Eine Landschaft mit einer zwei Millionen Jahre alten Geschichte
PDF, 11 page(s), 3 MB -
Bern – Die Kristallkluft Gerstenegg
Vom Kristall zum Berg, vom Berg zum Kristall
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Freiburg – Freiburg
Eine ganz besondere Naturschönheit!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Glarus – Engi
Ein Berg voller Kathedralen!
PDF, 11 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Graubünden – Flimser Bergsturz
Auf den Spuren des bis heute grössten Bergsturzes Europas!
PDF, 14 page(s), 22 MB, German -
Luzern – Eigental
Auf den Spuren eines Gletschers!
PDF, 12 page(s), 19 MB, German -
Nidwalden – Schwalmis
Atemberaubender Blick auf den Vierwaldstättersee!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Obwalden – Pilatus
Die nördlichste Spitze der Alpen
PDF, 13 page(s), 22 MB, German -
St. Gallen – Taminaschlucht
Exakt 36.5 °C warmes Thermalwasser dank der Erdwärme!
PDF, 10 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Schaffhausen – Rheinfall
Eine junge spektakuläre Landschaft
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Solothurn – Vernaschlucht
Ein verstecktes Meer!
PDF, 13 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Schwyz – Rigi
Beton!
PDF, 13 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Thurgau – Littenheid-Bichelsee
Eine vom Gletscherschmelzwasser gegrabene Rinne!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Uri – Schöllenenschlucht
Gesteine, 300 Millionen Jahre alt!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Wallis – St-Léonard
Ein türkisblaues Juwel im Herzen des Wallis
PDF, 11 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Zug – Zugerberg
Ein Berg, aus dem Gletscher gewachsen
PDF, 13 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Zürich – Küsnacht
An der Goldküste gibt es kaum Gold zu waschen!
PDF, 13 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Bern, Freiburg, Waadt – Die Gastlosen
Lassen Sie sich von den Türmen und Spitzen der Gastlosen verführen!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, German -
Glarus, Graubünden, St. Gallen – Tektonikarena Sardona
Eine klare Linie für eine verkehrte Welt!
PDF, 10 page(s), 21 MB, German
Sheet in Italian
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Ticino – Gole della Breggia
Un antico mare eroso da un fiume!
PDF, 12 page(s), 21 MB, Italian
Documents
Support for the elaboration of pedagogical sheets
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Bibliography
PDF, 4 page(s), 299 KB, German
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
- Tel.
- +41 58 469 01 11
Relevant authority
Swiss Geological Survey
Tel. +41 58 469 05 68