ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 A13

MAP CORNER

This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible through The St. Louis American Foundation and its NIE Corporate Partners:

The St. Louis American is proud to partner with Hazelwood, Ferguson-Florissant, Normandy, and the St. Louis Public School Districts to provide this classroom tool for STEM education for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, with content based on Missouri Learning Standards.

stlamerican.com

MATH CONNECTIONPracticing math facts is fun when you use rocks or pebbles. Try these three activities.

q Sorting: Use rocks and pebbles of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Sort them in categories such as small, medium, and large. Sort them by surface: rough or smooth. Sort them by color. Have students decide a rule for sorting their rocks and have the other students guess what rule they used to sort the rocks.

w Calculate It: Use chalk to draw 10 squares on the sidewalk or black top. Label the squares 1-10. Each student will throw two pebbles into a square. The student will then

It’s your turn to be a geologist. In this experiment, you will learn about the weathering of rocks.

Materials Needed: • Plastic Wrap • Clay • Water • Notebook • Camera

Process: q Moisten the clay with a little bit of

water.

w Divide the clay into two equal pieces, and roll it into a ball or use it to form a square.

e Use the plastic wrap to carefully wrap each piece of clay.

r Place one piece of clay into the freezer and leave the other piece on a counter. The clay will stay in the freezer overnight.

t After the clay has sat overnight, take the clay out of

SCIENCE CORNER

Mr. William’s 5th Grade Class Bermuda Elementary SLPSBermuda Elementary School 5th graders work on a STEM project that teaches them different phases of the moon. Teacher Mathew Williams looks over the work of Jordan Anthony 10, Kolby Coleman 11, Issaac Roberts 10, and Ariel Sutton 10. Photo by Wiley PriceTeachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: NIE@stlamerican.com

CLASSOOM SPOTLIGHT

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Geology is the study of the earth, its rocks and minerals. Geologists are scientists who study the matter that makes up the earth. They also study the earth’s history and the processes that have formed it. It has been said that geologists tell the story of the earth. Geologists study earthquakes, rock formations, oil exploration, groundwater, volcanoes and soil erosion. Geologists may work in the research lab or in the field. They use a variety of chemistry, biology, physics, and other sciences.

Farmers depend on accurate soil sampling, land erosion monitoring and water drainage information provided by geologists. Fishermen also seek the help

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities:

Save the Earth: Think about ways human activity affects our environment. Locate pictures of people solving environmental problems in your community. Cut and paste the pictures in a mural titled, “We Can Save the Earth.”

Future Artifacts: Artifacts help us learn about our history. Locate

a picture of something in the newspaper that could someday be used as an artifact. Paste the picture on a piece of paper and write about what the

future scientists could learn from the artifact.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate

information. I can create a bar graph and make observations.

of geologists who can explain silting, underwater seismic events, and other factors that may impact the waters. Geologists are usually logical thinkers, good problem solvers and enjoy working

outdoors.

Discussion Questions: Would you be interested in a career in geology? Why or why not?

For More Information, Go to: www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to learn about

careers in science.

the freezer and unwrap both pieces.

y Make observations. How is the surface of the clay? Do you notice any cracks? Take a picture of both

pieces of clay and write your observations

in your notebook.

u Place the clay in the freezer and repeat the process for several days. Which piece of clay looks more weathered, the piece that has been frozen or the piece that has been on the counter? What observation can you make about temperature and rocks? How do the cracks change over time?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can make observations.

Rock On with math games

Weathering a rock!

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The word fossil comes from the Latin word “fossilis,” which means “dug up.”

AFRICAN AMERICAN GEoCHEMIST:

Samuel B. Mukasa Samuel B. Mukasa was born on September 29, 1955, in Maseno, Kenya. His parents divorced when he was only six years old, and he was raised by his mother. He attended high school in Kampala, Uganda, and then went to the University of New Hampshire in 1977 for his bachelor’s degree in geology. In 1980, he received his master’s degree in geology from ohio

State University. In 1984, Mukasa received his doctorate degree in geochemistry from the University of California.

After graduation, Mukasa worked at the Laboratory at Lamont-Doherty Earth observatory at Columbia University for a few years before he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Florida. In 1989, Mukasa began work at University of Michigan. In 2007, he was promoted to the dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire.

Mukasa’s research focused on the plate tectonics of the continents, which describes the motion of the plates covering the earth. He has also participated in several service organizations, including the Polar Research Board of the National Research Council, and the National Science Foundation. Mukasa received an honorary Doctorate of Science by the Nkumba University in Uganda. In 2010, he was elected to serve as president of the Geochemical Society. He has written and received many grants to continue research in the field of geochemistry and has served as a mentor to many students. Most importantly, Mukasa worked with the Science and Technology Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence (STRIDE). STRIDE provides assistance to communities with minorities who wish to pursue higher education after they graduate from high school.

Discussion Questions: What does the prefix “geo” mean in science terms? Can you think of any other types of scientist with “geo” as a prefix? What do you think a geologist or geochemist does?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an African American who has made contributions in science, math, technology, or engineering.

add, subtract, multiply or divide those two numbers. For an added challenge, you can use 20 squares.

e Rock Review: Use a marker to label 20 pebbles with the numbers 1-20. Place them in a sealed bag. Students will take turns drawing two pebbles to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division skills. For example, if a student draws a 2 and a 6. They can state 2+6=8, 6-2=4, 6x2=12, 6/2=3.

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

Gigantic pink granite boulders can be found at Elephant Rocks State Park near Graniteville, Mo. The rocks even have names. The largest one is named Dumbo and stands 27 feet tall, 35 feet long, and 17 feet wide. It weighs 680 tons.

W h a t I s G e o l o g y ?

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living structure in the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rock found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is around 2 billion years old.

SCIENCE STARS