Abstract: Earth
Science Education: Linking Kentucky to the World
GREB, STEPHEN F., and DONALD R. CHESNUT, JR.
Recent education reforms
in Kentucky have resulted in earth
science material being taught at younger
ages than in the past. This has left many elementary and middle school
educators teaching
earth
science topics for which they were not trained,
and for which they need support. To assist these teachers and to increase
public awareness of
earth
science topics, the Kentucky Geological Survey
has established the
Earth
Science Education Network at http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/education.html.
The network is divided into
a series of sections, designed to help users more easily locate specific
earth
science information. The "Key to
Earth
Science Education Standards"
has links to WWW sites (including the KGS) arranged by National Science
Standards and
earth
science topics. Searches by topics and key words (e.g.,
coal, dinosaurs) can also be made through the "
Earth
Science Links" section.
Sites on the WWW were chosen based on accuracy of information, appropriateness
for K-12 audiences, quality of images and graphics, and availability of
free classroom activities and handouts.
Other features of the network
include: "Geology of Kentucky," an illustrated introduction
to the geology,
geography, and
earth
history of the State; "Fossils of Kentucky, a well
illustrated guide to the fossils of the State; "Rocks and Minerals of Kentucky,"
a guide to rocks and minerals of the State; "Did you Know?," an illustrated
guide to interesting facts (with fact sheets) about Kentucky; "Classroom
Activities," material developed for
earth
science educators; "Popular Kentucky
Earth
Science Publications" and "Sources of Information about Kentucky
Earth
Science," lists of
earth
science resources; "Kentucky
Earth
Science
Calendar," dates and locations of
earth
science meetings and trips; and
"Kentucky Kids Dig
Earth
Science," a photo gallery of Kentucky school children
participating in
earth
science activities to help promote student involvement
in the
earth
sciences.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90939©1997 AAPG Eastern Section and TSOP, Lexington, Kentucky