summer happenings!north central texas on us highway 84. there are multiple ways to get there,...
TRANSCRIPT
The TESTA Share-A-Thon is
an excellent way to partici-
pate in providing professional
development to teachers
without committing to a full
workshop. We are always in
need of members to present—
the more the better. This is
a great way for new teachers
to start building your PDAS
as a presenter at a State con-
ference. Please contact us if
you would like to be a part of
the Share-A-Thon.
Thank you to everyone who answered
the call to present a workshop or short
course at CAST 2015 in Fort Worth.
Hopefully all proposals were submitted
on time and will be accepted by the
proposal committee. Notifications of
acceptance are slated to be sent out on
July 15th.
If everyone who contacted me sub-
mitted their proposal and they are ac-
cepted, we should have 11 workshops
and three short-courses as part of our
strand. This will be a fantastic display
of our members earth science
knowledge and our commitment to
providing quality professional develop-
ment opportunities to Texas teachers.
TESTA will be at the following
conferences this summer!
Central Texas Mini-CAST—
Austin, TX—June 13, 2015
TESTA Fossil Hunt—
Brownwood, TX—June 14 & 15,
2015
Brookhaven Community Col-
lege— (Dallas) - Geology on
the Bus North Sulphur River—
June 16, 2015
Panhandle Math & Science
Conference - WTAMU—
Canyon, TX. - August 4th &
CAST 2015 Strand:
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Central Texas
Mini-CAST
2
TESTA Fossil
Hunt
2
Get On The
Bus!
6
Panhandle
Math & Sci-
7
Groundwater
to the Gulf
7
Lunar & Plane-
tary Institute
10
AGI 11
Summer Happenings!
S U M M E R 2 0 1 5
The TESTA Tailings S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F
I N T E R E S T :
CAST 2015 prepa-
rations
Upcoming Events—
Check inside for
more details!
P A G E 2
TESTA Fossil Hunt!
TESTA will be presenting
three workshops during
this conference. One will
be on the Physical and
Chemical Properties of
Minerals for Identifica-
tion. Another workshop
will be basically the same
format but will cover Igne-
ous, Sedimentary, and Met-
amorphic Rocks along with the
Rock Cycle. The last workshop
will focus on Topography. TES-
TA will also have a table in the
Local Resources room to pro-
vide information about our or-
ganization.
For more information or to reg-
ister - http://www4.esc13.net/
science/minicast/
plan is to stay the night in
Austin and then drive to
Brownwood on Sunday morn-
ing of June 14th. There are
a couple of good collecting
sites between Austin and
Brownwood that we do not
want to miss. We plan to be
in the Brownwood area on
Sunday afternoon. We will
then collect in the Brown-
wood area the rest of the
day. (Continue—page 3)
Lexy Bienek, TESTA
President, has invited
TESTA members to join
her in Brownwood, TX for
a fossil hunt around
Brown County. Due to
health issues, we were
unable to schedule the
trip during Spring
Break. TESTA is going
to be busy at the Mini-
CAST in Austin on Satur-
day, June 13th. So the
Family and
children are
welcome!
T H E T E S T A T A I L I N G S
Fossil Hunting ...
P A G E 3 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
We will then stay Brownwood on Sunday
night and then collect again on Monday
morning. Our plan is to stay at the Gate
One Inn in Brownwood. We stayed there
last time and the rooms are large, clean and
cheap! Here is their website:
http://www.gateoneinn.com/
There are many sites around the area to
collect at and where we go will be dependent
upon how full the lake is at the dam and how
areas have dried out after all of the rain.
The goods news is that all of this rain
should have exposed lots of new fossils!
Our plan is leave on Monday afternoon and
drive on to Dallas to join the “Geology on
the Bus” trip to the Sulphur River being
conducted by Brookhaven College on Tues-
day, June 16th. As far as we know at this
time, this trip is still on with the hope that
the river will be accessible.
Please read on the next page about this ad-
Older children are welcome, but you MUST supervise them closely as we will be in some
areas where you can get hurt (or worse) if you are not careful. There will be some very
steep and rocky terrain that can have falling rocks that we will be collecting fossils from
so be careful. Depending on the weather, you may also find some hazardous Texas critters-
-such as rattlesnakes, scorpions, spiders, red ants, etc. You will need to keep an eye out if
it is warm.
Where is Brownwood and how do I get there?Brownwood is located in Brown County in
north central Texas on US Highway 84. There are multiple ways to get there, depending on
your own personal preference. Pull out your map or look at a map online. I usually find my
way to TX Hwy 36 via I-10 or US 290. I take Hwy 36 to the Belton/Temple area, then US
190 over to Lampasas, then US 183 (which merges with US 84 at Goldthwaite) to Brown-
wood. You can choose your own route depending on what you want to see and where you
want to stop along the way. I like to look for fossil collecting opportunities along the way.
There are some obvious places in Copperas Cove and just south of Lometa. There are Zeb-
ras in Zephyr. It is approximately 290 miles from Houston. It takes roughly 5 hours to
drive from Houston, depending on your starting point and how many stops you make on the
way.
What you need to know!
Fossil Hunting ...
P A G E 4 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
How much does it cost?
This trip is free, but you are responsible
for your own transportation, food, and
lodging costs. You might want to get a
group together to carpool, share an ice
chest for lunch stuff and drinks, share a
hotel room, etc. This is just a group getting
together to see what we can find – nothing
formal! We will all meet up at a set loca-
tion and then caravan to the collecting sites.
I want to come, what should I do? Email
me or call me at 281-460-2026 to let me
know. Use my personal email since school
will be out - [email protected]
Where do I stay?
There are several hotels in Brownwood and
the Flagship Inn out by Lake Brown-
wood. There also are camping options at
Lake Brownwood State Park. Google it and
make your reservations based upon your
needs and budget. We stayed last year at
Gate One Inn and it was fine. Has a large
pool too so bring your suit! Breakfast is on
your own, lunch is whatever you pack and
bring (although we ended up at a local burg-
er joint last year) and we will probably
meet up somewhere for dinner on Sun-
day night.
What will I find there?
Primarily fossils of sea life, including urchin pieces,
gastropods, bivalves, corals, brachiopods, the
occasional rare shark tooth, sponges and other
goodies, and possibly some plants from the
Pennsylvanian period. There possibly could be some
Permian fossils and Cretaceous fossils too.
If you want to see a lot of pictures of fossils and trip reports from some of past HGMS
trips there, go to http://www.thefossilforum.com/ and search the Hunting Trips forum for
Brownwood. I think you probably have to be signed in to view most of the pictures, so
create an account and sign in. You'll like it.
Crinoid Stems from our last
hunt!
Fossil Hunting ...
P A G E 5 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
What do I need to take with me?
Appropriate clothing: Check the weather
forecast for Brownwood before you leave.
You may need T-shirts and shorts, long
sleeve shirts and jeans to keep the sun off
of you. Be prepared. Seriously, bring extra
shoes—it could be very muddy or dry or
both depending upon the site. I usually
take more than I need, but I have it if I
need it.
DO NOT FORGET SUNSCREEN AND BUG
SPRAY!
Collecting gear: Boots or old shoes, clothes
that you don't mind getting permanently
dirty, knee pads (a personal favorite),
gloves, lots of Ziploc bags in assorted sizes,
pill bottles or small plastic containers,
buckets (whatever you might need to put
fossils in), boxes of some sort to keep in
the car to empty your bucket into between
sites. backpack, screwdriver or small
pointy trowel, small garden trowels and
food strainers are handy as well, rock ham-
mer (if you like to bang on rocks), aluminum
foil or some other method of packing small
and/or delicate fossils. It is good to have
index cards and a marker for identifying
the fossil and noting the collection loca-
tion. These can go into the Ziploc bag with
fossils. We used a collapsible wagon last
year to haul the stuff and it was very wel-
comed!
Other Stuff: a cooler, plenty of water to
drink, snacks, lunch, sunscreen, hat, wet
wipes/wet washcloths for cleaning up after
the hunt, small first aid kit for scrapes,
camera, whatever else you want or think
that you will need. Collapsible chair? Throw
it in the car.
Get on the Bus to the Sulphur River!
P A G E 6 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute Field Course
North Sulphur River Fossil Hunt
GEOLOGY On The Bus! Tuesday, June 16 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
Earth Systems Science enrichment for classroom teachers, informal educators and Master Natu-ralists
For Details Contact: Melanie Gamble, 972-860-4269 or [email protected] Registration ends June 11 To Register Call: 972-860-4715 Course: ENGG # 1091-24106
Website: http://www.brookhavencollege.edu/geotech/
Join our experienced geology guide for a fos-sil collecting trip to the North Sulphur River near the community of Ladonia. This area contains an abundant and diverse fossil assemblage from the Cretaceous through Pleistocene Period and offers collec-tors the opportunity to acquire local material. The trip will include a discussion of the geolo-gy of the North East Texas area in which you will be collecting, a description of the paleo environments based on fossil identification and an overview of geologic time. Weathering and erosional patterns also will be discussed during the drive to the collecting site.
Trip Gear: Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet or bring boots. Warning – River access is steep and requires sturdy shoes or boots – No Flip Flops!
Consider bringing change of dry footwear and Pants. • Bring hat, sunglasses and sunscreen Bring backpack, sharpie, pencil and plastic bag for specimens Bring small trowel, hiking staff and camera if desired
Participants receive: * 0.9 Continuing Education Units and a certificate from Brookhaven College * Informative notebook including classroom activities * Pertinent TEKS/STAAR related information * “Fossil Collector’s Guidebook to the North Sulphur River” * Geological Highway Map of Texas
Panhandle Math and Science Conference
P A G E 7 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
West Texas A&M University and Region 16 ESC
Canyon, TX
August 4—5, 2015 (Tuesday & Wednesday) - 9 AM to 4 PM This two-day conference will bring together K-12 mathematics and science educators from across the Pan-
handle, South Plains, and surrounding areas. It is the first union of the WTAMU Panhandle Area Mathe-
matics and Science Conference, the Region 16 Mathematics Conference, and the Region 16 Science Con-
ference.
TESTA is planning to present some workshops and have a booth at this conference. We are also planning
to have a side trip to Palo Duro Canyon either before or after the conference. Let us know if you want to
participate!
For more information: http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/math-and-science-conference.aspx
To register for this workshop, go to:
http://coloradoriver.org/newsite/our-programs/redbud-
educational-program/groundwater-to-the-gulf/
Groundwater to the Gulf—continue...
P A G E 8 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
Groundwater to the Gulf—continue...
P A G E 9 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
Don't forget - Pluto Encounter July 14 -
Look for events in your city!
New Horizon spacecraft left
Earth in 2006 and is quickly ap-
proaching its fly-by of the icy
dwarf planet and its moons.
Its closest approach will occur
on July 14th, 2015.
There are upcoming Earth and space science events and professional development
workshops here in Houston that may interest you:
Free Summer Earth and Space Science Workshop for 8th grade at
LPI
August 5-7, 2015: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/ESS/
The Lunar and Planetary Institute, working with members of the STEP program, will
be offering a series of free workshops August 5-7 for 8th grade science teachers
and middle school science student teachers (and pre-service teachers); topics include
lunar phases, tides, seasons, topography, and characteristics of the universe. Regis-
tration will be on a space available basis.
Just 4 Teens at the HMNS
http://hmns.org/teenscience
This Summer, the Houston Museum of Natural Science offers two high energy, pro-
ject intensive programs for teens who love doing science and making their own discov-
eries. Create your own computer game, analyze fossils, explore the cosmos and the
ocean floor. With the Museum's world renowned exhibit halls as their classroom, stu-
dents will create real projects with real data. Teachers, please contact Carolyn
Sumners directly ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>), if you have any
questions about those classes.
Mars Through Time Workshop for High School Teachers
July 13-16, 2015 http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/mars/
Mars Through Time is a four day high school teacher professional development train-
ing focusing on Mars science and exploration and the nature and process of science,
which will be conducted at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. Participants
explore the relationship between technology and science using the history of Mars
exploration as an example. Participants also learn about and discuss the nature and
process of science with each other and invited speakers. Registration is free. Travel
stipends are available for select participants based on need. The application period
closes May 15, 2015.
P A G E 1 0
Other Happenings….
If you are interested in implementing the Next Genera-
tion Science Standards (NGSS) in Earth and Space Sci-
ence, you are invited to participate in a free webinar at
4pm EST, June 9. The webinar represents the next
stage in efforts by AGI, the organizer of Earth Science
Week, in collaboration with the National Association of
Geoscience Teachers, to strengthen implementation of NGSS.
A month ago, more than 50 geoscience education leaders came together to share ide-
as about how to support the implementation of NGSS. This webinar is designed to ex-
pand involvement by initiating a community conversation about networking opportuni-
ties, actions at all levels, and how best to engage the geoscience community through
Town Hall Meetings at the conferences of the Geological Society of America
(November 1-4) and the American Geophysical Union (December 14-18).
Go online for "Webinar: Maintaining the Momentum - Networking and Actions by Geo-
science Stakeholders to Support NGSS Implementation." The webinar is free, but
registration is required. The deadline for registration is June 7. Learn more at
https://nagt.org/nagt/profdev/workshops/ngss_summit/follow_on/index.html.
Don't wait until fall to prepare for Earth Science Week 2015 (October 11-17)! Now is
the time to plan your activities. Take this opportunity to make a wish list: How would
you like your students to celebrate Earth Science Week?
You can promote this year's theme - "Visualizing Earth Systems" - by preparing ac-
tivities that help your students explore visual representations of data on the geo-
sphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Start with the exciting classroom
activities featured on the Earth Science Week website at http://
www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities.
Leading up to the October celebration, you'll see more and more Earth Science Week
events, both local and nationwide, listed online at http://www.earthsciweek.org/
upcoming-events. For more ideas, read about successful past events at http://
www.earthsciweek.org/highlights or see recommendations on how to get involved at
http://www.earthsciweek.org/event-planning.
P A G E 1 1
Other Happenings….
What is energy? Where does energy come from? How much energy do humans use?
Free, interdisciplinary education materials and videos are available to answer im-
portant questions like these - and to foster a more energy literate nation.
AGI's Center for Geoscience & Society has produced corresponding education mate-
rials, including videos in English and Spanish, student and teacher guides, a "quick
start" guide to energy literacy, lesson connections, and guidance on aligning energy
literacy lessons with the Next Generation Science Standards. Also, AGI provides
links users to many resources available through AGI member societies and partners
such as Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development (SEED) and Switch En-
ergy Project.
Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education resources, avail-
able on the U.S. Department of Energy website, are available at http://energy.gov/
energyliteracy. For information on and resources of the Center for Geoscience & So-
ciety, please visit http://geocntr.org/.
National Fossil Day:
Exploring the past in your future! The National Park Service and AGI are col-
laborating to kick off the sixth annual National Fossil Day during Earth Science Week
2015. On Wednesday, October 14, you and your students can participate in events
and activities taking place across the country at parks, in classrooms, and online.
Ever look at a fossil and see into the past? Understand why paleontologists
protect the locations where fossils are found? Know what fossils can tell you about
climate change? National Fossil Day resources and activities help you answer these
questions, celebrating the scientific and educational value of fossils, paleontology,
and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.
Look for fossil-themed activities and materials in the Earth Science Week
2015 Toolkit. And stay up to date on emerging resources and events through the Na-
tional Fossil Day website at http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/.
For instance, the program's 2015 logo features the chalicothere, a large her-
bivorous mammal, standing in a prehistoric prairie grassland. To compliment this
year's logo, the theme of the monthly feature article is "Cenozoic Era Life and Land-
scapes." For information about the logo and more, visit http://nature.nps.gov/
geology/nationalfossilday/nfd_2015_artwork_fossils.cfm. Download logos at http://
nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/nfd_logo_intro.cfm.
P A G E 1 2
In Other TESTA News...
P A G E 1 3 T E S T A T A I L I N G S
HGS Recorded Videos Available Online
Most of these videos are oil and gas related but there are also good
videos on Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Geology!
https://www.youtube.com/user/
HGSGeoEducation/videos
You can subscribe to the free YouTube Channel using this link to receive notices of the
latest HGS recorded meeting videos.
On a sad note - Longtime TESTA member, Stanley Perkins of M.R. Wood Center for Learning in Fort Bend ISD passed away of pancreatic cancer in May. He attended the University of South Alabama and the University of Houston. Stan taught all secondary school science clas-ses at the District’s Alternative School since 2001. In addition to his interest in the earth scienc-es and support of TESTA, Stan enjoyed listening to folk music, American Mathematical Society, and supported EarthEcho International.
TESTA’s 2014 Teacher of the Year, Mary Jean Tykoski of Cooper Junior High School
in Wylie, TX was a finalist for the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8
Earth Science Teaching.
Given annually at the NESTA meeting at NSTA, AGI's Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award rec-
ognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for leadership and
innovation in Earth science education. The award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C.
Roy, Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. To
learn more, please see www.americangeosciences.org/education/awards/roy.
Free Galileoscopes for teachers! Must be sent to school address... For
P A G E 1 4