Karen N. Mason Buckland

2008UGRO Project

Nicaragua

Goal

Devise And Complete A Project That Incorporates GIS Technology, Geology, And The Nicaraguan Community.

Proposed Idea

Develop and copyright a bilingual student textbook that provides a comprehensive explanation of Nicaraguan geology.Have numerous color copies of the textbook published, including individual paper workbooks.Distribute the textbooks and workbooks to the Nicaraguan public schools.Make it available for mission groups to distribute also.

Textbook Content

Classifications, descriptions and photographs of indigenous Nicaraguan rocks and formations.Explanation of the tectonic activity in Nicaragua and drawings of the tectonic plate.Describe the geological formation history of NicaraguaEarthquake, Volcano and Tsunami Information and pictures.

Textbook Content, Cont.

Maps of NicaraguaGIS and GPS information and pictures of equipmentLocal Rock Sample Identification CardSubduction Data and Fault PicturesSafety tips for geological emergency situations

Workbook Content

Crossword PuzzleWord SearchConceptual QuestionsRock Identification PracticeBlank Maps

Basic Geology InformationMohs Hardness ScaleProject IdeasVolcano diagramsSafety Review

Education Statistics

Only approximately 67% of population is literate.The average completed grade level is 5.Most Nicaraguan children do not attend school past Age 12.The schools are under-funded

There are almost 57,000 students in the country.Nicaragua has one of the lowest literacy rates in Central America.The Nicaraguan government is implementing a four part education reform.

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.9

1

1stQtr

2ndQtr

3rdQtr

4thQtr

3-DColumn 13-DColumn 23-DColumn 3

Resources

Local LibrariesInternet, including Nicaragua government sites and USGS.govBilingual friends and translating tools. All the Professors involved in UgroInformation from the previous trips to Nicaragua.

Local churches that have done mission work in Nicaragua.CHESS, a US based group focused on Nicaraguan educational needs.Personal visit to Nicaragua.

Project Timeline-2008

February-Trip to Nicaragua, collect rocksMarch- Complete workbook, find publisherApril-Complete text and photo layout for textbookMay-Complete translation of text

June-Submit for a Copyright July-Promote book August-Submit for publicationSept/Oct.-Present to National Geological Conference.

Anticipated Outcome

Successfully create a textbook that will:I. Be distributed to the schools throughout

Nicaragua (especially those in need of books)II. Teach the students in Nicaragua about the

geology of their countryIII. Create and interest in science and teach

safety to the children of the country.