K-12 HANDS-ON EARTH HISTORY ACTIVITIES AT THE EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION NETWORK, KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Kentucky Geological Survey continues to add classroom materials to its Earth Science Education Network, www.uky.edu/kgs/education/education.html. The network includes annotated links for teaching K-12 standards-based earth-science concepts; a listserv to help earth-science teachers communicate with one another and other earth-science professionals; classroom activities created by KGS geologists and educators in Kentucky, and links to classroom activities offered elsewhere on the Internet; as well as many other earth-science educational materials. "Fossils of Kentucky," one of the more popular resources, contains hundreds of images of Kentucky fossils categorized by age, region, and type; an illustrated geologic history of Kentucky; out-of-print paleontological reports; and fossil identification keys using descriptive words or illustrations of basic shapes and patterns, to help students and the general public identify fossils. Popular earth history classroom activities include (1) a "Geologic and Paleontologic Cookbook": recipes for edible earth-history fun in the classroom, (2) "Draw T. rex": a step-by-step menu for putting the flesh back on a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, (3) "Trilobite Masks": how to make a cephalon mask from paper plates, (4) "It's About Time": a collection of standard methods for demonstrating time on paper, a clock, a sports field, basketball court, or parking lot (this activity includes illustrations of prehistoric life and important dates in earth history), and (5) "Can You Find…": a search for different types of fossils and prehistoric animals depicted on the popular "Progression of Life" poster, which shows fossils and prehistoric animals through time.