News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, Sept. 29, 2008
The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), in cooperation with the American Geological Institute (AGI), is supporting Earth Science Week activities this October 12-18, 2008, by making available Earth Science Week Toolkits. KGS is distributing the toolkits to individuals and groups interested in holding their own Earth Science Week activities and programs.
The Earth Science Week Toolkit includes information and resources for the public, university, and K-12 students. Examples of toolkit contents include an all-weather Rite in the Rain notebook and field activity; NOAA climate literacy materials; EarthCaching CD-ROM from the Geological Society of America; GPS and GIS lessons for earth science education; National Academy of Sciences observations of Earth from space CD-ROM; wall posters, educational handouts and classroom activities based on National Science Education Standards. Additional resources and activities that complement the toolkits are available from the Earth Science Week website at: http://www.earthsciweek.org.
Earth Science Week is an annual event organized by AGI to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. The theme of this year's Earth Science Week is "No Child Left Inside." The goal is to focus learning about earth sciences in their natural setting--outside. Central to the goal is to get schoolchildren across the nation to turn off the TV and step away from their computers to discover the rocks, soil, watersheds, and weather patterns in their communities.
Earth Science Week 2008 Toolkits can be obtained from either the Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047-3726 (phone 785-864-3965), or the KGS Wichita Well Sample Library, 4150 Monroe St., Wichita, KS 67209 (phone 316-943-2343). A limited supply are available free of charge, plus shipping and handling. After supplies are exhausted, additional copies may be purchased from AGI for $6.95, each, plus shipping and handling. Kansas residents should call for specific sales tax owed. More information about KGS books, maps, and other products is available at the KGS's web site (www.kgs.ku.edu).