Teaching Earth Sciences - Earth Science Teachers' Association

From the Editor
Hazel Clark
I have just returned to work after the Christmas
shut down, and as usual have put on more
clothing to come inside the building! My work
colleagues are laughing, but looking somewhat
enviously at my Steptoe-like mittens and Paddington
Bear style hat!
Following on from the torrential rain during October and
November and associated floods, we are now skating
over the ice in one of the longest cold periods that I can
remember in this part of the country.
Topically, as part of its Year of Environment, Liverpool
has hosted Wild in Art’s Go Penguins http://www.
gopenguins.co.uk/site/ – a Winter’s Trail around the
city that focuses on climate change and provides hints
for ways that we can become greener. As well as the full
sized penguins, there were also schools colonies where
the decoration of each penguin was designed by the
children in association with classroom activities related to
climate change. What a fun way of getting the message
across and it has certainly been enjoyable waddling around
the Trail and interacting with the other people doing the
same thing. Perhaps the most poignant penguin was the
one decorated with two penguins standing on different
ice flows, tears rolling down their faces and the tag line
‘global warming splits up families’. Now the penguins (in
association with the Environment Agency) are advocating
recycling to reduce the impact on landfill sites. They
themselves will be recycled as they are being auctioned off
to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s charities.
On a more serious note, it is with great sorrow that I
report the loss of Fred Broadhurst and Frank Mosely, both
renowned teachers and communicators, who had long
standing ties with the Association. An obituary for Fred has
been included in this issue and I hope to have an obituary
for Frank ready for publication later in the year.
As usual, there is a varied collection of articles for your
edification and delight such as a taster to let you know
what will be happening at the Leicester Conference and
why you will be foolish to miss it! There are several articles
related to the Southampton Conference including the ever
popular ‘Bring and Share’ and an item related to the free
CD (included with this issue) on Sub-surf rocks, plus a bit
of a theme on climate change. Then there is a mixture of
articles covering such diverse areas as building design and
environmental sustainability; peneplains and plate tectonics;
a history of Australia; convoluted structural geology and
ending up in the Somerset Earth Science Centre.
I have taken the Editorial decision to reintroduce the
geological howlers. I understand that there were some
complaints a few years ago, but I feel that we can all learn
from the misconceptions that are revealed in some of
the howlers. They are also jolly useful for filling in spaces
between articles and I would rather use something that will
make us smile than leave a blank space. I can remember
one of my school friend’s answers in a housecraft exam. The
question was “where is the hottest part of the oven and
why”. Answer “the flame – try putting your finger in it!”
Not quite the answer the teacher was looking for, but valid
none the less. So, please keep sending your howlers in.
As usual, I end with a plea. Your magazine is only as
good as the articles that you supply. Please get fingers to
keyboards and send your work to tes.esta@gmail.com.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hazel Clark
Editor TES
COPY Deadlines
TES 35 2 30 June 2010 for publication in September 2010
TES 36 1 31 December 2010 for publication in March 2011