Last month, the Nevada Mining Association and Nevada Division of Minerals hosted the Southern Nevada Earth Sciences Workshop for teachers at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas. This year’s Workshop served as a platform for Nevada teachers to participate in an open discussion about earth sciences, increase their knowledge on the subject and to better understand the role that mining plays in the lives of all Nevadans.

In an effort to keep the Workshop both informative and interactive, teachers participated in multiple activities designed around mining and mineral related topics. Each of the interactive demonstrations allowed teachers to develop mining-based lesson plans for their respective grade levels. Teachers also had the opportunity to visit a variety of mining locations as well as enter a drawing for the opportunity to take home a digital microscope and a real gold splatter.

This year’s winner of the digital microscope was Ladean Cox from Las Vegas’ Roger Bryan Elementary School. Cox has been attending the Southern Nevada Earth Sciences Workshop for many years and enjoys the interactive sessions that allow her to expand her already strong background of rocks, minerals and Nevada’s natural resources.

“It is amazing how this workshop continues to grow,” Cox said. “I look forward to attending it each year, because every time I leave, I take with me an entirely different perspective, always learning something new.”

On Friday, April 19, Cox and her class were presented with their brand new digital microscope by Bill Durbin, chief of Southern Nevada operations of Nevada Division of Minerals. Durbin has been a vital part of the Workshop, often assisting in the development of many of the hands-on activities designed to allow teachers a better understanding of  the role that minerals play in today’s society.

During Durbin’s presentation, children in Cox’s first grade classroom looked on with excitement as he opened the box to their new microscope. Cox began quizzing her students on things they have been learning since she returned from the Workshop once the new microscope was on display for everyone to see. The eager children each raised their arms with the same intensity, hoping they would be the one chosen on to answer the questions, with each student correctly answering every question.

It seems that the microscope couldn’t have gone to a more deserving classroom and teacher.