CDRI hosts Earth Rocks!!! science education program

More than 300 schoolchildren from the region participated in the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute's annual earth science field day Oct. 16.

During the field day, children learned to pan for minerals, identify rocks, and read different types of thermometers to track how weather changes.

They scratched glass with a diamond, took a geology hike, learned about copper ore, and discovered how pulleys and levers work.
"My kids arrived back home (Grandfalls) tired and so much ‘smarter' than when we left," noted Judy Brown, a fourth-grade teacher at Grandfalls Elementary School.

"The Earth Rocks!!! is designed to get children interested in science and to reinforce the science concepts that they need to know for their TAKS test," said James Saunders, Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute education director.

"You can look at pictures of the sun, but to actually look at it through a solar scope - now that's exciting!"
Eighteen different activities encouraged hands-on exploration and learning.

More than 50 volunteers helped put on the event including science-education partners from the UT McDonald Observatory, Sul Ross State University, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Chihuahuan Desert Gem and Mineral Club.
The event was funded by donations from CDRI members and friends.

The Earth Rocks!!! take place each year in conjunction with Earth Science Week, a national celebration of geology, oceanography and meteorology.

For more information or about any other science-education events, contact Saunders at jsaunders@cdri.org or 432-364-2499.