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Albedo Transect Research (Field Trip Day 1)
Students explore how Albedo research is designed and conducted by interviewing the researchers at one of their research sites. They relate Albedo and it's relationship to the Arctic environment as well as assess how a small change in a...
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Earth System Science
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
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Plugged in to CO2
Students use a meter to measure the energy used and carbon produced by electronics and appliances. In this environmental science and technology lesson, students use a Kill-A-Watt meter to determine the electricity used by everyday...
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Natural Resources and Your Christmas Tree
In this natural resources and your Christmas tree worksheet, students read about the raw materials used to make items associated with Christmas trees, match 12 items with materials, then color a picture.
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The Earth's Energy Budget
High schoolers study the Earth's energy budget. In this investigative lesson students observe a lab that shows all aspects of heat transfer and light processes.Â
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Twisting the Air Away - The Coriolis Effect
Pupils examine the Coriolis Effect and its effects on the different hemispheres. In this Earth science lesson students divide into groups to they make predictions. Pupils then complete an activity to explore movement as it relates to...
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Making Your Own National Park Geologic Tour
Middle schoolers research national parks. In this geology lesson plan, students identify the geological features of selected national parks and create PowerPoint presentations that feature their findings.
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Post-settlement landscape evolution
Students use this example, a field laboratory in introductory geology becomes a test of a hypothesis: Does the model proposed by Stanley Trimble for Coon Creek, Wisconsin adequately describe the history of post-European-settlement...
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Studying Aquifers in Outcrop
Students describe two or more different rock types found in outcrop. Students look specifically at the hydro-geologic properties of the rocks and complete the lab with a paper explaining a scientific phenomenon in layperson terms.
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Groundwater Pump Test
Students observe groundwater flowing to a pump, changes in groundwater table as a result of pumping, and the quantity and quality of water in the groundwater system. Students must graph and interpret their data, and quantify orders of...
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Cemetery Geology
Young scholars examine the chemical and physical weathering process of different rocks in a cemetery based on dates on the stones. Students discover the susceptibility of different rock types to weathering.
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Glacial Geology in the Field
Students examine the origin of glaciers, how glacial sediments are deposited, and what sedimentary records of glaciation provide about source and process of glaciers in a field lab.
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Floodplains in the Field
Students measure a topographic and geologic cross-section across a floodplain using simple surveying and auguring techniques in a field lab. Students also reconstruct the history of a river system.
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"Adopt an Outcrop"
Students "adopts" a different outcrop or road cut, describing and interpreting both the outcrop scale features and hand specimens. They build their confidence in their ability to describe and interpret outcrop geology. Students are...
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GPS Treasure Hunt
Students practice using a GPS receiver and reading directions in an on-campus field trip. Students can identify a building stone, tree, or plant at each stop depending on which area of science is being studied.
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Sun Spot Analysis
Students use Excel to graph monthly mean Greenwich sunspot numbers from 1749 to 2004. They perform a spectral analysis of the data using the free software program "Spectra". Short answer and thought questions related to the graphical...
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When is Dinner Served? Predicting the Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine (College Level)
Students are able to explain the ecological importance of phytoplankton. They describe the components that influence a phytoplankton bloom. Students interpret satellite images in order to correlate buoy data.
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Sea Floor Spreading II
Students import ocean bathymetry data form either the topex web site or text files. They then graph these observations along with model predictions to assess the model's ability to sumulate the observed topographic features of the North...
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Geologic Puzzles: Morrison Formation
Students 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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Calibrated Peer Review: Introduction-Why Study Geology?
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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Field Exercise: Stream Flow Dynamics & Sedimentation
Students produce a vertical profile of a stream and map and define thalweg, point bar, and cut bank. They measure flow velocity differences across a stream transect and equate flow velocity with size of substrate sediment collected.
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Three Dimensional Geology
Students use rocks and fossils to interpret the geology of an area. They use prior knowledge and make recommendations about where to build a subdivision based on the rocks.
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Choose Your Own Soil Adventure
Ninth graders will use a soil survey to make management decisions and by interpreting geologic maps. The importance of different soil types is discussed and the implications of how soil can be useful for our communities.
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Ocean Stratigraphy Challenge
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...