Field Research Project: Comparing the Parent Rock Material of the San Francisco Terranes With Local Soil Types

Do great gardeners really have green thumbs—or just really great soil? Environmental scholars discover what makes Earth's soil and soil quality so important through research and experimentation. Learners also develop an understanding of...

Students collect weed seeds from three varieties of weeds (knapweed, thistle, or toadflax, for example they may choose others in addition to the spotted knapweed.) They sterilize soil for thirty containers, plant seeds in sterile soil,...

This site that presents an in depth look at the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Plate boundaries are identified, effects of this natural disaster are outlined, and a wealth of information is discussed that provides a...

This lesson is designed after research done on the ecology of soil lichen in the Tucson Basin area during the summers of 1997 and 1998. Its purpose is to guide students into adopting the problem solving thinking of ecologists. The lesson...

The USGS provides an extensive section of information about tsunamis. The items presented are the basics of tsunamis regarding the Great San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, tsunamis in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and the 1998...

Students investigate how to draw topographic contours and read topographic maps.They examine the topography of San Francisco and contrast the elevation of different points within San Francisco.

Could a virus be the key to reversing color blindness in humans? Some researchers believe so, and have even tested it out on monkeys. Learn more about the experiment and its effects in a short video that could accompany a lesson on gene...

Brief review of paleomagnetism, specifically their role in better understanding Plate Tectonics. [8:35]

Students analyze photographs relating to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake for earthquake damage. They determine the cause and effects of the earthquake and the fire.

Thirsty plants soak up every bit of a rainfall, but what happens to the rain that hits the roof? Calculate the amount of rainwater from your school's roof with an Earth science activity, which brings measurement skills, observation...