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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Describe and Interpret Images: Folded Strata

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers describe and interpret images. They make a simple sketch of an outcrop shown in a slide (or computer projection) then discuss possible interpretations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  In this magnet activity students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weathering Rates

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students calculate weathering rates from tombstone weathering data. Atmospheric (and precipitation) chemistry determines the rate of weathering for marble tombstones. They are shown data from a rural and an unrban cemetery, and are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viewpoint on Causes of Global Warming - An Assignment Using Anonymous Electronic Peer Review With a Dropbox

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students are told that studies exist that suggest human activities are not causing warming of the Earth. Students are given the opportunity to further their writing, critical thinking and reasoning skills. While enhancing their computer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Oit!

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders use this game to find minerals given rocks and outcrops in a plausible (but not real) geologic setting. They play without outside encouragement for hours as the world is fun to explore and the scoring system encourages...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slinky and Waves

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch a demonstration using a Slinky during a lecture on basic wave properties. Properties addressed in the demo include wave speed, wave length, amplitude, period, and frequency.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Campus Nitrogen Budget

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students are given guidelines to college level nitrogen budgeting. Students brainstorm the campus links to nitrogen budget. Students pick topics or subtopics for individual or group research. Students develop research plan, keep good...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students brainstorm the campus links to global warming. Students pick topics for individual or group research. Students develop a research plan. Students keep good records and report their progress. Students report findings both...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemistry - Atoms and Elements

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils perform varied activities as part of a layered curriculum unit: They write and perform a skit that outlines the evolution of the model of the atom. The script is submitted to the teacher for review before performance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's in the Garbage

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze how studying garbage relates to methods of archaeology. They examine garbage to determine things about their culture and relate that to prehistoric peoples.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Activity to Introduce the Geoscience Perspective

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students examine various rock specimens assuming the viewpoints of various individuals--sculptor, landowner, preacher, etc. They study the rock, and then prepare a list of observations and questions. They summarize and share their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calibrated Peer Review: Introduction-Why Study Geology?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students read an article written by Sarah Andrews, a geologist who has written mystery novels featuring a geologist who solves crimes. After reading the article, students write an essay based on a Writing Prompt and begin peer review...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Brine Shrimp Project

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders design and conduct a laboratory investigation to determine how different factors may affect the hatching and development of brine shrimp eggs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Use of a Piece of Land

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students study positive and negative aspects of land use laws and zoning ordinances. They participate in a land use planning exercise using a role play activity.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Petrology in the Field and Laboratory

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students collect samples in the field, analyze them using various tools and instruments, then present their results and interpretations. They examine igneous and metamorphic rocks in detail and interpret petrologic data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Annotating Change in Satellite Images

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students compare a series of satellite images taken 3-4 years apart to investigate the effects of human land use. They annotate the images using ImageJ software and use the annotated images to explain their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adventuring in the Archipelago

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle and his visit to the Gal??pagos Islands. They click through an interactive map of the Gal??pagos Islands to read actual and fictional journal entries from a fellow eco-tourist.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction To Pests

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate common pests and match pests to their respective pictures. In a group discussion, students explore the basic needs of pests and share personal pest stories. They examine common self-protection measures. Using the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Stratigraphy Challenge

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students are asked to explain the sequence of rock and sediment types and to devise an experiment to test this hypothesis. It is intended for students with some prior knowledge of oceanography, sedimentary geology, and plate tectonics...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reducing Volcanic Hazards to People and Property

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine and research major hazards to humans located in the area of volcanoes and write a general summary. Students must choose a volcano and determine what actions might be taken to reduce risks to a population. Summaries are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Developing a Local Stratigraphy

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students examine rock strata for the distribution, deposition, and age of sedimentary rock. They describe rock types in a variety of outcrops and construct a regional stratigraphy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Assessment Course

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore how the campus is linked with the larger environment. They investigate how to collect data by interviewing and researching, analyze findings, and make recommendations. Students explore how to present their findings to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geologic Puzzles: Morrison Formation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers make observations and present interpretations based on their observations and on their prior knowledge. They use images to answer questions and make formulate hypotheses.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanksgiving: Bird Evolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the evolution of birds. For this biology lesson, students research articles that discuss evidence about the ancestry of birds. They discuss their findings with the group and draw a journal magazine cover highlighting...