Supporting the teaching of Earth sciences at all levels

Aims

The aim of the Earth Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA) is to advance education by encouraging and supporting the teaching of Earth sciences at all levels, whether as a single subject such as Geology, or as part of Science or Geography or other courses. The Association has been helping teachers at all levels for more than 43 years and continues to develop in response to emerging educational challenges. What can ESTA offer you? • Our magazine, Teaching Earth Sciences, is published twice a year. It contains articles on classroom, laboratory and field teaching, news and resources, curriculum updates, book and website reviews and more. Past issues, back to 2001, are available online for the benefit of members. • A newsletter, ESTA news, that is published twice a year and gives dates for your diary, information about new books and field guides and details of useful courses and events. • An Annual Course and Conference that is held over a long weekend (Friday – Sunday) in September. It offers a range of in-service training, academic updating, ideas for teaching and fieldwork, plus exhibits of resources. Conferences are held at venues across the country, with recent conferences at Universities of Plymouth, Cardiff and The Open Unversity. • Resources specific to Primary teachers, covering the Earth science elements of the National Curriculum, and exploring links with other subjects. These include teaching packs featuring soils and rocks. The ESTA Primary team also deliver practical workshops at most ASE (The Association for Science Education) and the GA (Geographical Association) Conferences. • Initiatives such as the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU) and the Joint Earth Science Education Initiative (JESEI). These have been instigated by ESTA to provide Secondary teachers with flexible in-service training and activities to ‘bring Earth science to life’. • Real value-for-money ESTA teaching materials, including access to our online resources GEOTREX and STEGO. Wall maps and practical kits comprising rocks and fossils are also available for purchase. • Engagement with Awarding Bodies and educational organisations, allowing you to keep abreast of curriculum development, specifications and assessment methods. • A network of fellow members and a dedicated website to support your Earth science teaching. On a broader scale, ESTA supports Earth science education in the wider community, typically through partnerships. To join ESTA, download a form (which is available in either PDF or Word format), complete it and send to the address on the form with full remittance or request an invoice. Membership application If you would like to gift aid your membership subscription, download the Gift Aid form, complete it and send it to the address on the form. Gift Aid Form