Chris Rowan is a geologist specialising in the dark arts of paleomagnetism, and getting people to pay him to travel to exotic destinations for fieldwork. Having drilled up New Zealand during his PhD, and South Africa in his first post-doc, he now works at the University of Edinburgh.
Anne Jefferson has a love of all things water-related and blends hydrology, geomorphology, geology, and climate change in her work. She has a Ph.D. from Oregon State University and is now an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
This week, we're helping push the Geobloggers Giving Kids the Earth challenge, by promising that Chris or I will write a post on a topic chosen by our readers for each project that is fully funded by the end of the week. We already owe you at least two posts, and I've encouraged a bunch of meteorologists to show up the geologists by funding the remaining weather projects.
Today is the day you've all been waiting for...the day I break down and actually give you a project about rocks. And for once, I don't think I need to tell you why you should fund this project. We all know that it is awfully darn hard to learn about geology without getting your hands on a rock or two. So how about getting some rocks for a first-grade teacher from Oregon to use with her class of urban, high poverty students? These students are mostly English language learners from over 20 countries. In describing the project "We love rocks!", she writes:
Our district requires a unit about rocks, but provides very little resources for the study of the unit. The students want to see and touch interesting rocks. These books, rock samples, and learning activity kits will help my students understand Earth science. Touching and interacting with the rocks we are learning about will enhance our learning. Your help will make it possible for my students in increase their academic language and understanding of Earth science. They will be so excited to have all of these wonderful books and rocks to learn from.
"We love rocks!" only needs $175 to be completed. If you happen to all get excited, you can get a head start on tomorrow's featured project "Shake Rattle and Measure" or give to another Oregon classroom in need of rocks, earth science books, and a globe. Don't like the project I've picked? Take a look at the rest of the Geobloggers Giving Kids the Earth giving page and find the one the best suits your fancy.
Physical Science
Education
