GEOLOGY ON WHEELS: AN OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS

Geology on Wheels is a community outreach program designed to give college students an opportunity to teach an earth science lesson to elementary school children. The program stimulates volunteerism among college students and over time creates a partnership between the college and local schools (and teachers). The “wheels” lesson is used either as an introduction to or reinforcement of a lesson taught by the classroom teacher. Two geology students co-teach an hour lesson that includes hands-on activities. Common lessons are rock and mineral identification and use, physiographic provinces of Virginia, local fossils and formations, and topographic maps. The lessons have been designed to satisfy some of the criteria for the Science Standards of Learning (SSOL) in Virginia. Currently, thirty to forty classrooms are visited in one academic year reaching about a thousand students.

The Geology on Wheels program reaches many children with one-time visits. A variation of this program is to mentor children during an academic year. Geology students commit to teaching a classroom of students once a month for an entire academic year. Two geology students create six earth science lessons that meet the state SSOLs and co-teach each lesson. This cooperative program between the college institution and the rural community is in its third year. Eight to ten college students participate reaching all of the ninety (90) first grade students.

Another model of outreach is to invite the community to the college institution. Geology Day is an annual event devoting one day to children of the community. Approximately 120 children participate. Geology lessons are created and tested by college students with an emphasis on hands-on laboratory-style learning. Geology faculty and students cooperate in teaching the lessons.