NEWS RELEASE: WSGS Provides Classroom Lessons for Wyoming Earth Science Week

Wyoming State Geological Survey
Oct. 8, 2014

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Media Contact:
Chamois Andersen
(307) 766-2286 x231
chamois.andersen@wyo.gov

 

WSGS Provides Classroom Lessons for Wyoming Earth Science Week

 

The third annual Wyoming Earth Science Week, October 12-18, is a celebration in learning for students and citizens to better connect and understand Earth and the geosciences.

“Earth science is vitally important to our society,” said Tom Drean, director of the WSGS. “Our human history has been influenced directly by Earth science,” he said. “Today, as much as ever, major opportunities and issues are tied to our understanding of the Earth.”

This year, the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) provided junior high schools across the state with a complimentary Earth Science Week toolkit, created by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The kits contain all sorts of learning materials, activities, and tools for teachers and their students to delve into the many aspects of Earth science and geology.

In addition to the toolkits, the WSGS has created a website with classroom lessons (grades 4-12) for teachers. The website includes a variety of learning activities that WSGS has related to Wyoming’s geology. The classroom lessons were produced by AGI in collaboration with many Earth science programs and agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic Atmospheric Association, and NASA.

Wyoming has a diverse and amazing array of landscapes and natural resources. From the depths of the Green River Basin to the peaks of the Bighorn Mountains, there are a number of places were people can see just how Earth’s natural processes and geologic forces have shaped the landscape. “Our state is a virtual classroom,” Drean said. “It is our hope that students and citizens can use Earth Science Week as an opportunity to explore and better understand Earth’s dynamic systems in Wyoming, from its rocks, minerals, and fossils to mountain building and energy resources.

In 2012, Governor Matt Mead proclaimed the second week in October as Wyoming Earth Science Week, recognizing that education in the geosciences and Earth are important to our state.

Other Earth Science Week activities include:

National Fossil Day! On Wednesday, October 15

Tate Geological Museum, Open House, Casper College, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15. Join the museum staff for treats, tours, crafts, games and more! Be sure to bring your rocks and fossils for identification. This year the museum will also have the Earth Science Department’s model stream table to teach kids (and adults) about water resource management and stream evolution. The Casper College lapidary class will be on hand to demonstrate how gemstones progress from their natural state to a beautiful, faceted stone or cabochon.

Geoscience for Everyone Day Promotes Earth Science Careers! On Thursday, October 16

Join the Earth Science Week team in encouraging everyone - including women, minorities, and people with a range of abilities - to explore geoscience careers on “Geoscience for Everyone Day.”

Celebrate The Third Annual Geologic Map Day! On Friday, October 17

Join leading geoscience organizations in promoting awareness of the importance of geologic mapping to society.

In Celebration of National Fossil Day! On Saturday, October 18

University of Wyoming Geological Museum, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18. Build a mountain, make it rain, learn about topographic maps, and become a Junior Geologist. Visitors will also be able to go behind the scenes to see how paleontologists prepare fossils with hands-on learning opportunities.