Hands-on workshop for Earth science teachers
This full-day, hands-on workshop for science teachers is funded by the Foundation and free for all teachers to attend. We host this workshop annually in Oklahoma City, and we can also customize it for on-site training for a specific school or district anywhere in Oklahoma.
Our goal with this program is to empower teachers to make Earth science a fun and memorable experience for their students. The workshop covers a wide range of Earth science topics and educational skills for teachers, including:
- Environmental processes
- Rock formation
- Mineral identification
- Geological landforms
- Mapping
- Fossil fuel formation
- Alternative energy sources
The workshop is led by Richard Opalka, a geologist and retired Earth science teacher at Edmond North High School.
Since 2011, more than 500 Earth science teachers in Oklahoma have attended the More! Rocks in Your Head workshop.
Program history
Oklahoma Geological Foundation first sponsored More! Rocks in Your Head in 2011 and has continued to sponsor it annually. The workshop has also been presented at several national and sectional conventions held by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists at locations throughout the United States, which has led to national acclaim for the program.