Geology society volunteers teach at elementary schools
Published 9:51 am, Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Earth is layered like an onion. The Earth’s outer core is molten liquid, like hot syrup flowing over pancakes. And plate tectonics are like breaking a cookie apart because the pieces don’t have smooth edges.
These were just a few of the similes Daphne Lampman, Youth Education Committee chair for the West Texas Geological Society, used to explain geology to sixth-graders at Santa Rita Elementary School on Feb. 26.
Lampman is one of 40 WTGS volunteers who goes to MISD elementary schools to talk to fifth- and sixth-grade students about earth science and its applications in the real world.
The PowerPoint presentation that volunteers use illustrates and explains the layers of the earth, plate tectonics, types of rocks and natural resources, and comes with a handout for students to take notes. Lampman also took rock samples to show students as she explains the three types of rocks found on Earth.
Lampman said she tries to make the presentation fun and engaging for students.
“When you think of it from a kid’s point of view, what’s so exciting about a rock?” she said. “But it’s not just about rocks; it’s about everything around us.”
The WTGS-MISD partnership began in 2009 when the society’s four Youth Education Committee members tried to reach as many schools as possible. However, Lampman said possible volunteers were intimidated by having to come up with their own talks.
“‘I don’t mind volunteering, but what do I talk about?’” Lampman said she heard.
The committee worked with MISD science coaches to create a standard presentation — covering Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for earth science — that all volunteers could use.
WTGS hosted its first volunteer training luncheon in 2010, which led to an increased number of volunteers signing up to talk to classes. In 2013 — the year the program expanded to include sixth-graders — WTGS had 46 volunteers, which was greater than the number of schools visited. There are 40 active volunteers this year.
WTGS and MISD worked closely to make sure the presentation covered the right content and used a vocabulary that elementary-aged students can understand. Sixthgrade classes learn more about plate tectonics than their fifth-grade peers.
Ashley Colvin, sixthgrade science and social studies teacher at Santa Rita, said the presentation helped reinforce what she’s currently teaching. It’s one thing to hear a lesson from a teacher, but it’s another to learn how geology is used well past sixth grade and in the professional world, she said.
Colvin said she was also glad that her female students could see women working in a scientific field.
Lampman said she enjoys making geology fun for kids, and hopes it helps them consider careers in geology.
“You can’t have oil and gas without geology,” she said. “If you can excite these kids about geology early on, then the workforce is benefiting from