BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH TEACHERS AND RESEARCH GEOSCIENTISTS TO BRING CONFIDENCE AND SCIENCE CONTENT INTO 4th - 8th GRADE CLASSROOMS

The Science Education Institute of the Southwest, National Science Foundation, and the Earth and Planetary Science Department at University of New Mexico partner to support a Teaching Fellowship designed to connect K-12 teachers with a research geologist for a 6-week summer internship. The internship provides teachers with hands-on geology experience to better understand and gain confidence in scientific methods and to bring these experiences to their classrooms.

This summer I worked with a stratigrapher and geochemist in a field and laboratory project studying paleoclimate change in 385 million year old marine rocks. We spent 1 week in the field in Nevada making observations of sedimentary rocks and collecting samples for chemical testing. The remaining 5 weeks were spent in the laboratory processing rock samples, which included dissolving limestone and concentrating particular minerals for chemical analysis. I am designing a geology unit composed of 3 graduated learning levels that can be implemented in grades 4-8. Level 1 includes standards-based knowledge on Bloom’s Taxonomy building basic vocabulary of rock types, the rock cycle, and weathering and erosion. Level 2 is designed to understand general geologic processes that shaped the local Albuquerque landscape and build on the knowledge gained in Level 1. Level 2 encompasses plate tectonics (volcanoes, faulting, mountain building) and changes in climate, sea level, and ancient life. To teach this level, I will work with University geologists to learn science content, bring in guest speakers to build background knowledge, and synthesize ideas utilizing field trips (via walking or bus). Level 3 partners students with University geoscientists to complete a simple geologic project much like a science fair project, further demonstrating advanced geologic knowledge, critical thinking, and a presentation of student work. The overall goals of this unit are to understand geologic scientific content, develop a partnership between young learners and experts, and to create a learning environment in which scientific inquiry is the motivation for learning. My belief is that when educators connect with scientists, our knowledge is enhanced; when we connect students to science, curiosity is sparked and ingenuity is generated.