Jacob’s staff is a simple measuring instrument traditionally used in stratigraphy to measure the thickness of stratigraphic successions. This lightweight, portable tool makes it easier to determine the true thickness of rock beds, even when the outcrop’s configuration makes direct measurement difficult (e.g., covered outcrop).

We did a teaching innovation project (proyecto de innovación docente) at University of Salamanca:  “Incorporación de la Vara de Jacob en clases prácticas como herramienta introductoria al estudio cuantitativo y cooperativo en ciencias geológicas”. The project aims to help students, teachers, researchers or amateurs to learn how to use and/or make their own Jacob’s staff.

The plans and instructions can be freely downloaded in *PDF format from the institutional repository of the University of Salamanca accessible through the following link:

http://hdl.handle.net/10366/166169,

while more details can be found on the projects webpage:

https://varadejacob.usal.es/