Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Scientists and Schools

Enhancing Earth system science learning

We have continued to support classroom presentations and community group campus visits, among other vareid opportunities as a service to the community and the University. Outreach staff and CIRES scientists have made numerous calssroom presentations, developed pedagogically and developmentally appropriate classroom kits for scientists to take into the classroom (Front Range geology, weather and water quality), initiated a classroom module on polar environments, now part of the Science Discovery program, and arranged engaging filed expereinces for educationally-disadvantaged youth groups visiting the campus.

While we are able to provide many learning opportunities we ask that the students be currently involved inthe specific content area that you request.

In the Classrooms
Scientists can visit your classroom to do demonstrations in a variety of Earth science topics.

Example: A scientist was requested to do a hands-on activity for fifth graders. He presented an acid-rain demonstration which was well recieved. The CIRES Education Outreach staff provided the materials and the opportunity. The researcher commented on his experience: "Thanks again for the opportunity. The students were incredibly bright and enthusiastic, making the outreach experience very rewarding for me."Example: A classroom needed assitance learning how to use GIS/GPS tools. We were able to find a scientist who was able to go to the school and work with the teachers who were instucting their students on the use of the software and hardware.

In the Field
Scienstists can lead your class on a field trip or work with you on a research project. Example: For the last three years we have recruited scientists to lead a group of fourth grade students on a geology field trip. We also provided a geology rock kit for use in the field and classroom for indenitifcation purposes, as well as printed materials to help in the explanation of our local geology of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Mentors
Scientists can mentor your students. (This can be accomplished in a variety of ways including via e-mail, in the class or at the University of Colorado, Boulder) Example: Career day 2003, for two 7th grade students. These students were interested in microbiology as a career. We set up a two-hour visit with a fellow from CIRES and they were able to go into the lab, do a few simple experiements and get some hands-on experience. Each student had a good experience: "I thought it was very interesting to be in the lab and I enjoyed the hands-on expereince. Dr. Copley and her graduate student were both very helpful and provided me with a lot of information. It was neat to be able to watch someone in a career that I will be interested in later on in my life. It was a wonderful day." The other student remarked: "It was really neat to see the machines and help do experiments. It seems like it would be really interesting to be a microbiologist."

Example: A student needed help with a science fair project on acid rain and mapping it across the United States. We were able to put the student (and teacher) into contact with scientists that were able to help guide the process. We also provided other resources that the student used in their project.

For more information about this project, please contact us.