Georgia Perimeter College
Earth Systems
Workshop
for High School Teachers
July 9-20, 2007
Dr. Pamela Gore and Dr. Beryle Baker
Georgia Perimeter College
and
Dr. William Witherspoon
DeKalb County Schools, Fernbank Science Center
This workshop is funded by the “No Child Left Behind” Title II Part A Higher Education Improving Teacher
Quality Grant.
Georgia Performance Standards Background
Earth Systems Georgia Performance Standards for High School Students
and Draft Frameworks
Online tools - WebCT and Wetpaint
EarthComm Resources for Georgia (AGI)
Helpful web resources for all topics in
Earth & Space Science
Designing an Earth Systems Course
Lecture Notes
Experiments and
Activities
Introduction to Scientific Inquiry
The Nature of Science
SCSh1. Students will
evaluate the importance
of curiosity, honesty,
openness, and skepticism
in science.
a. Exhibit the above traits in their
own scientific activities.
b. Recognize that different
explanations often can be given
for the same evidence.
c. Explain that further
understanding of scientific
problems relies on the design and
execution of new experiments
which may reinforce or weaken
opposing explanations.
Ordeal by Check: An introductory activity about
the Nature of Science
Sequencing Events - Three Little Pigs Cartoon
activity
Student Handouts
Scientific Inquiry
A New Model for Inquiry - Is the Scientific
Method Dead?
General resources
Geoscience Images (title provided or enhanced by
cataloger)
Earthweek Online
Alphabetized Earth Science Animations
Exploring Earth
Exploring Earth Chapter 30
The Earth Through Time (Levin) Online Chapter
Tutorials
Dr. Gore's Historical Geology Course Outline
Systems and Cycles
SES1. e. Identify the transformations and major reservoirs that make up the rock cycle,
hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, and other important geochemical cycles.
SES6 c. Explain how geological and ecological processes interact through time to cycle
matter and energy, and how human activity alters the rates of these processes (e.g.,
fossil fuel formation and combustion).
A Systems Perspective
Earth Observation Days - Introduction to Earth
Atmosphere, Hydrosphere,
Geosphere, Biosphere
Systems activity
Introduction to the Earth Assignment
Discover Our Earth
Earth's Cycles
Earth Systems in a Bottle - NSTA Place soil,
plants, and insects inside a soda bottle to model
biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and open
and closed systems.
Dr. Art's EXPLORING SYSTEMS Structure small
groups discussion about systems with "guess the
system that.." and analyzing the nesting of
systems.
Earth System Science Course Design Matrix
Earth System Science in a Nutshell
NASA's Description of Earth System Science
The Earth in Space
Air
Water
Land
Life
The human dimension
Why use an Earth system science approach in the
classroom?
ESS Learning Resources with Notes
Shape of Earth
Size of Earth
Global topography - NOAA
More images of the Earth from NOAA
Zoom in on areas of Earth's surface
Earth at different scales
Global phenomena RIGHT NOW
Earth
Our changing continent
Global change - Earth as home
Global change lessons
Earth's atmosphere
Atmosphere structure and ozone
Layers of the atmosphere
Satellite images of environmental change
The Great Ice Age
Animation of Earth's spheresEarth Observations:
Pattern Recognition of the Earth System
NASA Earth Observatory (Data and images,
Atmosphere, Oceans, Land, Life on Earth, Heat
and Energy)
NASA Earth Observatory - Features - huge
website
NASA Earth Observatory - Experiments
NASA Earth Observatory - Library
Project Learn Cycles of the Earth and
Atmosphere Many activities: - On
atmosphere:Use colored jellybeans to visualize
different proportions of gases in Venus, Earth,
and Mars atmosphere.
Model thickness of the atmosphere with
thickness of chalk line in circle of set diameter,
and layers of atmosphere by colored sand in
graduated cylinder.
Use bb’s in Petri dish to model density of water
molecules in three states of water.
Use soil, water, ice, and a lamp in a plastic box to
model the water cycle.
Use lamp, sand, dark soil, and water with
thermometers to model differential heating
Use rods of different materials and birthday
candles as heat source to model conduction.
Use food coloring in water; extinguish candle
with CO2 to demonstrate convection.
Similar battery of activities on introduction to
climate, the greenhouse effect, global climate
change, introduction to ozone, and
stratospheric/tropospheric ozone.
Geochemical Cycles
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Sulfur Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Dr. Art's CARBON CYCLE Use black balloons to
visualize the amount of carbon in each reservoir
in the Earth System and to demonstrate transfers
between reservoirs.
Dr. Art's THREE PRINCIPLES PLAY Use balloons
in a role play to model the interaction between
sun, plant, and cow, demonstrating the carbon is
recycled while earth is open system with regard
to energy.
Carbon cycle activity
Biogeochemical Cycles: Recycling Carbon and
Nitrogen on Earth - activity from Louisiana
The Carbon Cycle - NASA Earth Observatory
Natural Cycles Lesson Plan - West Virginia
Given a “word bank,” diagram any given
geochemical cycle.
The Rock Cycle
Rock cycle
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Rock activities for students, NYC
NYC Performance Stds
Interactive rock cycle experiments
Rock cycle
Rock Cycle crayon Activity - Thinkquest Use
crayon shavings to model the formation of
sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rock.
Rock Cycle Activities - Indiana - many with
cooking Model: igneous rocks with melting and
cooling powdered sulfur at different cooling
rates, or evaporating Epsom salt or alum
solution, or making fudge with sugar, butter, milk
marshmallows, and mint wafers
sedimentary rocks with dried fruit and nuts put
through blender and compressed, or sand and
Epsom salts, or pebbles, sand, and CaOH.
metamorphic rocks with pancakes or cookies
with embedded chunks;
Ancient lava flows and plutons
Minerals, Magmas, and Volcanic Rocks
Atlas of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks,
Minerals, and Textures
Igneous Rock Identification Exercise Online key
to identify igneous rocks.
Sedimentary Rocks - GPC
Sedimentary Rocks Laboratory - GPC
Animation of sedimentary rock forming
How sediments are deposited
Animation of coal formation
Transport of sediment by flowing water
Metamorphic rocks
GPC Metamorphic Rock Pictures
USGS Metamorphic rocks
Animation - How metamorphic rocks are formed
Metamorphic rocks
Metamorphic rock tour
RockDoctor presents metamorphic rocks
Simulated Metamorphic Process - Squeeze
Granola Bar Create grain deformation and
preferred orientation by deforming a granola bar
using C-clamps and plywood.
Metamorphic Rock Identification- What Lies
Beneath- Online key to identify metamorphic
rocks.
Hydrologic Cycle and the
Roles of Water
Water Cycle Activity
Water
Seawater composition; salinity
Waves, currents, tides, and sea level change
Make a model of the water cycle
Follow a raindrop through the water cycle
EPA - Groundwater and drinking water
Water For Kids - Links to What you can do,
Environmental Kids Sites, etc.
USGS Real time hydrologic data
Water Conditions in Georgia
Water use in the US
American waterworks association
The groundwater foundation
Drinking water and health
World Bank access to safe water
Water conservation in GA
GA water issues
USGS Groundwater
USGS Water science for schools
USGS Water science for schools - Earth's Water
Water science for schools - groundwater
US Drought Monitor
EPA Superfund list - pollution (click on GA)
National priority list superfund sites in GA
Sea Surface Temperature (NASA)
Science & Technology Focus - Ocean Water
Oceans Alive - Density currents exercise
Dr. Art's DYNAMIC BALANCE IN A BOTTLE Make
holes in a bottle and run water into the bottle to
model keeping the quantity of material constant
in a system.
Where Does the Rain Go- Study evaporation and
absorption of rainfall on the school grounds
using maps, rain gauges, puddle measurements,
and pan evaporation.
Weather and Climate
SES5. Students will investigate the interaction of insolation and
Earth systems to produce weather and climate.
a. Explain how latitudinal variations in solar heating create atmospheric and ocean
currents that redistribute heat globally.
b. Explain the relationship between air masses and the surfaces over which they form.
c. Relate weather patterns to interactions among ocean currents, air masses, and
topography.
d. Describe how temperature and precipitation produce the pattern of climate regions
(classes) on Earth.
e. Describe the hazards associated with extreme weather events and climate change
(e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, El Niño/La Niña, global warming).
f. Relate changes in global climate to variation in Earth/Sun relationships and to natural
and anthropogenic modification of atmospheric composition.
Basic introduction to weather
(including air masses)
Weather Assignment
Lesson Plans - Climate and CO2 Analyzing their
Relationship
GISS ICP Earth Climate Course
The CERES S'COOL Project
WorldWatcher Project Global Warming Project
ElNino_May02.pdf
What's Up With the Weather-- Temperature
Trends El Nino- Making Sense of the Weather
Chasing El Nino- Forecasting Folklore
Weathering the Odds- Learning About Weather
Forecasting in the Science Classroom
Plate Movements and Climate Change
Essentials of Weather
Feeding Frenzy- Seasonal Upwelling
Dr. Art's GREENHOUSE EFFECT
The effect of acid rain on monuments in
Washington, DC
Cycles of the Earth and atmosphere
Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring
Network
Intellicast weather - see forcast and radar for
your area
Weather Channel
Weatherbug
American Meteorological Society DataStreme
Online Meteorology Guide
Air masses and fronts
Penn State virtual reality weather site
NASA S'Cool materials for teachers
Wind and Global wind systems
including latitudinal variations
in solar heating
Mid-latitude storms slideshow
Animation of land and sea breezes
Coriolis effect and wind direction
Thunderstorms, tornadoes, &
hurricanes
NOAA Hurricane student activity, and Worksheet
Hurricane Ivan Report for tracking exercise
NOAA tornadoes student activity, and Worksheet
NOAA Lightning student activity, and Worksheet
NOAA Student Info - Hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
FEMA - Hurricanes for kids
Hurricane preparedness
How to track a hurricane
Hurricane math quiz
Hurricane and tornado intensity scales
FEMA - Tornadoes for kids
Tornado math quiz
Twister info
FEMA - Thunderstorms for kids
FEMA - Lightning safety for kids
Lightning & atmospheric electricity; lightning
detector in space
NOAA and National Weather Service Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning - Nature's
most violent storms
USA Today lightning page
USA Today Tornado page
NOAA - Hurricanes - Unleashing nature's fury
NOAA El Nino student activity, and Worksheet
Animation of hail forming
Air Pollution including the
Greenhouse Effect and global
warming
NOAA Ozone student activity
NOAA Greenhouse Effect Student Activity
Graphing stratospheric ozone - grade 5-8
Air pollution - Ozone
EPA - Ozone depletion
Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution
Acid rain and our Nation's Capital
Greenhouse effect and global warming activity
Climate regions
NOAA Paleoclimatology
NOAA Paleoclimate Modeling
Climate data visualizations
Climate system
Exploring Weather & Climate Change Through
the Powers of 10
Global Atlas of Paleovegetation Since the Last
Glacial Maximum
Global land environments since the last
interglacial
North America During the Last 150,000 Years
The Great Ice Age
El Nino / La Nina
Ocean World
Oceans and climate - click to move to next pages
Bridge. Sea Grant Ocean Sciences Education
Center
Ocean currents
Hazards of sea level rise
Global sea level change: Determination and
interpretation
Water on the Move - Wind and Waves
Ocean in motion - Tsunamis
Shoreline processes
Tides, currents and navigation
NOAA's National Ocean Service
NOAA lesson plans
Water current lesson plan
Ocean World - Oceans and climate, oceanic
circulation.
Ocean's role in weather
Waves, Tides and Currents - How do they work?
Ocean waves
Wave action - virtual exploration of the beach
Reconstructing Earth's Past
SES4. Students will understand how rock relationships and fossils are used to reconstruct
the Earth’s past.
a. Describe and apply principles of relative age (superposition, original horizontality,
cross-cutting relations, and original lateral continuity) and describe how unconformities
form.
b. Interpret the geologic history of a succession of rocks and unconformities.
c. Apply the principle of uniformitarianism to relate sedimentary rock associations and
their fossils to the environments in which the rocks were deposited.
d. Explain how sedimentary rock units are correlated within and across regions by a
variety of methods (e.g., geologic map relationships, the principle of fossil succession,
radiometric dating, and paleomagnetism).
e. Use geologic maps and stratigraphic relationships to interpret major events in Earth
history (e.g., mass extinction, major climatic change, tectonic events).
SES1 c. Describe how the decay of radioactive isotopes is used to determine the age of
rocks, Earth, and solar system.
SCSh7. Students analyze how scientific knowledge is developed.
c. From time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific view of how the world works.
More often, however, the changes that take place in the body of scientific knowledge are
small modifications of prior knowledge. Major shifts in scientific views typically occur after
the observation of a new phenomenon or an insightful interpretation of existing data by an
individual or research group.
Relative Dating
Early Geologists Tackle History's
Mysteries (Levin Ch. 2)
Time and Geology (Levin Ch. 3)
Relative Dating Laboratory
Depositional Sedimentary
Environments
The Sedimentary Archives (Levin
Ch. 5)
Relative Dating Exercises
Sequencing Events - Three Little Pigs Cartoon
activity
Student Handouts
Relative Dating of Geologic Materials - a 5E
lesson
Who's on First- A Relative Dating Activity
Using cards with overlapping letter codes (or
fossils) to infer the sequential order of fossils.
Interactive relative dating exercises (from Athro)
Unravelling geologic time - Columbia U.
Who's on First - A relative dating activity
Fossil Hunt Destroy a paperback book and let
students put fragments together to model
reconstructing geologic history.
TLP p. 99 – use pile of playing cards to illustrate
law of superposition
1. Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rock Classification Table
Sedimentary Rocks - Exercises
2. Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures - Exercises
3. Depositional Sedimentary Environments
Sedimentary Environment Classification Chart
Depositional Sedimentary Environments Exercises
EC p. U5 – Make models of mudstone, rock salt,
sandstone, and conglomerate using earth
materials and a craft glue/water solution.
EC p. U6 – classify sedimentary rock samples
into clastic, organic, and chemical.
Mud Is Mud... Or is It? Compare pictures of
sediment from two different submarine locations
to notice differences in grain size and
composition.
International Stratigraphic Chart (Geologic Time Chart)
Details for International Stratigraphic Chart
Correlation and Dating
Time and Geology (Levin Ch. 3)
Radiometric Dating
Time and Geology (Levin Ch. 3, p.
4)
Radiometric Dating
U235 squares
Stratigraphy and Lithologic Correlation
Stratigraphy and Lithologic Correlation
Exercises TLP p. 103 – Given a diagram of fossils
found in successive layers, and 3 rocks with fossils.
determine which layers each rock belongs to.
Mapping Ancient Coastlines
Given sea level position at different times in past, map
ancient coastlines on bathymetric map and make
inference about archeological site.
Culver.html Analyze a collection of foraminifera you
make at the seashore.
Fossils, Rocks, and Time Table of Contents
An online publication with nice illustrations from USGS
– no activities
Biostratigraphy
Download Excel Time chart for
Biostratigraphy Lab
Determining Age of Rocks and Fossils
Virtual Radiometric Dating
Radioactive Decay- A Sweet Simulation of Halflife
Use candy marked on one side (M&M’s?) and a
series of tosses to model the loss of radioactive
nuclei of a substance due to decay.
Radioactive Dating Methods and Decay Curves
Put 100 coins heads up; shake and count
iterations
The Age of the Earth- Can You Believe
Everything You Read- Students read an article
that lists various arguments for the young age of
the Earth, and answer questions.
The Age of the Earth- The Changing Views of
Science Students read an article that describes
the history of ideas about the age of the Earth,
and answer questions.
Radioactive dating simulation - Answers
Interpreting Major Events in
Earth History
Mass extinctions
Major Climatic Change
Tectonic events
Geologic Maps and Block
Diagrams
Global Ups and Downs- Changing Sea Level
A DLESE Teaching Box with a series of activities
on changes in sea level
EC p. U3 –Write a report for tourists on geologic
history of your area.
Paleogeography and Geologic Evolution of North
America
Be the Block - Geologic Block Diagram as an
Inquiry Tool
Fault Analysis Group - Paper Models
Towel Geology
Colored/patterned towels are used as the
medium to show how a particular outcrop pattern
is produced (in this case the flatirons west of
Boulder) Let the students tell how to get from flat
layers to the pattern seen.
EC p. U40 – model cross sections of folds by
layering colored modeling clay and cutting with
dental floss.
EC p. U41 – model types of faults by moving
colored Styrofoam blocks
EC p. U50 – repeat clay folds and faults to
reproduce map patterns.
EC p. U52 – given a cross section interpret the
sequence of events.
EC p. U56 – given geologic map of your
community, answer questions about the oldest
and youngest rocks, age of faults and folds,
length of time missing on unconformities.
EC p. U34 – study a geologic map and cross
section and draw conclusions about the shape
and extent of units.
What is a Geologic Map and How is it UsedUse colored paper circles stuck into sand box
with sand topography – students mark direction
of strike and dip on a map.
Interpreting Geologic History from Maps:
The Grand Canyon Geologic Map
History of Life
SES6. Students will explain how life on Earth responds to and shapes Earth systems.
a. Relate the nature and distribution of life on Earth, including humans, to the chemistry
and availability of water.
b. Relate the distribution of biomes (terrestrial, freshwater, and marine) to climate regions
through time.
c. Explain how geological and ecological processes interact through time to cycle matter
and energy, and how human activity alters the rates of these processes (e.g., fossil fuel
formation and combustion).
d. Describe how fossils provide a record of shared ancestry, evolution, and extinction that
is best explained by the mechanism of natural selection.
e. Identify the evolutionary innovations that most profoundly shaped Earth systems:
photosynthetic prokaryotes and the atmosphere; multicellular animals and marine
environments; land plants and terrestrial environments.
World Biomes
Distribution of Life on Earth and
Relation to Water
Biomes and Climate
Through Time
North American Biomes
Biomes
NASA - Mission: Biomes
Introduction to Biomes
Animated Map of Vegetation Change, past
21,000 years (Viewer)
Earth Systems History (Brown University)
Quaternary Biome maps (NOAA)
Diversity of Life in the Paleozoic
Early Paleozoic Events 1
Global Biosphere Map (NASA)
Cenozoic Events (Levin Ch. 15)
Fossils and the Record of
Shared Ancestry,
Evolution and Extinction
Fossils and Geologic Time
Life on Earth: What do Fossils
Reveal? (Levin Ch. 6)
Life of the Paleozoic (Levin Ch.
Invertebrate Macrofossils
Invertebrate Macrofossils - Exercises
The Evolution of the Vertebrates: Introduction to
Vertebrate Paleontology
Adventures at Dry Creek
Uncovering Florida's Fossil Past module:
Determining Fossil Ages - new site
Understanding Cladistics - new site
Classifying with Cladistics - Part 1 (coins)
12)
Fossils and Evolution
Classifying with Cladistics - Part 2 (animal table)
Classifying with Cladistics - Part 3 (Animal
cladogram)
Classifying with Cladistics (Animal pictures)
Naturally Selecting Insects Worksheet
Instruction Sheet
Other University of Florida modules
Determining Fossil Ages - Lesson 1 (grades 7-10)
Determining Fossil Ages - Worksheet
Understanding Cladistics - Lesson 2 (grades 512)Understanding Cladistics
Understanding Cladistics - Worksheet 1
Understanding Cladistics - Worksheet 2
Understanding Cladistics - Worksheet 3
Understanding Cladistics - Organism Cards
Naturally Selecting Insects - Lesson 3 (grades 412)Naturally Selecting Insects - Worksheet 1
Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes
Dozens of activities to investigate the nature of
science, the origin of life, and organic evolution.
– site originated in 1998.
Fossil Shapes Extension Activity Use different
sections through an apple and a banana to
understand why different sections through the
same fossil can be different.
Connecting Population Growth and Biological
Evolution Use approximately 2000 objects (e.g.
beans) placed in a container to demonstrate
geometric growth of a population and the limits
to growth.
YEAST RESPIRATION Use six test tubes with
yeast, water, sugar, other substances, and
balloons to show differences in CO2 production
under different conditions.
Time Scaling a Football field - Ky Survey Model a
timeline on a football field using students to mark
events.
Time Scaling - paper strip - nap.edu Students
develop their own time lines in a 5e’s activity
using paper strips.
Getting into the fossil record
Stories from the fossil record - paleoecology,
geologic time, etc.
Univ. of Calif. Berkeley Paleontology Museum
Understanding evolution
Explorations through time
Learning from the fossil record
Life has a history
Our changing continent - USGS
The paleontology portal
Paleo Ring - a collection of web sites
Fossils on the Internet
Invertebrate Macrofossils Lab
Fossil preservation lab
Evolution of the vertebrates lab
Discovering dinosaurs classroom activities
Dinosaur extinctions
Three Profound
Innovations
1. Photosynthetic prokaryotes
and the atmosphere
2. Multicellular animals and
marine environments
3. Land plants and terrestrial
environments.
The Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World (Levin
Ch. 9) - discusses photosynthetic prokaryotes and the
atmosphere
Overview of the Precambrian (Levin)
Life of the Paleozoic (Levin Ch. 12)
Life of the Mesozoic (Levin Ch. 14)
Life of the Cenozoic (Levin Ch. 16)
Life Influences Earth
Systems (including Fossil
Fuels)
Energy Resources
*Paleontological Research Institution - The World
of Oil
World Energy Council - Human activities in the
world around us - deforestation and energy use
Virtual Oil Well Game
Georgia Gas Prices - click on your nearest city,
see graphs showing gas prices over time, and
comparing gas prices in other areas
Gasoline, other fuels and you
Adventures in energy
Energy Information Administration - Petroleum
Gasoline company imports - which gasoline
companies import from which countries. See
large Excel file.
Energy Information Administration
Kids Energy Page
Natural Gas
Energy Resources (Andy Darvill)
Field Trip to NW GA
July 12, 2007
Summerville (crinoid stems, shale and chert)
Fort Payne Chert
Maury Shale (phosphate nodules)
Chattanooga Shale
Mississippian Limestone
Pennington Shale
Coal
Gizzard Group sandstones
Structural geology of Lookout Mountain and McLemore
Cove
Plant fossils in Pennsylvanian shale at Durham
Cumberland Plateau overlook and incised meanders
Ordovician marine fossils in limestone
Geology and Geography of Georgia lab
Georgia Geology
Large Geologic Map of Georgia
Georgia Geology Photo Index
Georgia Sights of Geologic Interest
Geologic Map of Georgia - Blue Ridge and Piedmont
Geologic Map of Georgia - Ridge and Valley
Geologic Map of Georgia - Coastal Plain
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~dthieme/Conasauga.htm
Field Trip to Fernbank Museum of
Natural History
A Walk Through Time in Georgia - Self-Guided Tour
Origins and Earth's Interior
SES1. Students will investigate the composition and formation of Earth systems,
including the Earth’s relationship to the solar system.
a. Describe the early evolution of the Earth and solar system, including the formation of
Earth’s solid layers (core, mantle, crust), the distribution of major elements, the origin of
internal heat sources, and the mechanism by which heat transfer drives plate tectonics.
b. Explain how the composition of the Earth’s crust, mantle and core is determined and
compare it to that of other solar system objects.
c. Describe how the decay of radioactive isotopes is used to determine the age of rocks,
Earth, and solar system.
d. Describe how the Earth acquired its initial oceans and atmosphere.
e. Identify the transformations and major reservoirs that make up the rock cycle,
hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, and other important geochemical cycles.
Comparing Solar System
Objects
The Planets
Moon
Comets, Asteroids, Meteors
Thermal Convection and Viscosity of a Fluid
The Origin of the Solar System
Explorations in Earth Science- Three-D Earth
Structure Model
The Origin of the Solar System - NinePlanets.org
PSR DiscoveriesHot Idea Origin of the Earth and
Moon NOVA Online Teachers Classroom Activity
Origins Earth is Born PBS
USGS Astrogeology Program - Browse the Solar
System ElementsAndYou
Build a model solar system Exploring the planets
cyber center
Best of the solar system activity
Those Whirling, Twirling Planets activity
NASA Kids page - Planets and the Solar System
Nineplanets - size, mass, density, prospects for
life
NASA planet photo gallery
Planetary fact sheets
Welcome to the Planets
Your weight on other planets.
Quaoar, the icy world beyond Pluto
NASA Space Place - Earth & Moon
The Moon - Nineplanets
Moon Fact Sheet
Moon - World Book at NASA
Impact craters activity
Animation of impact theory for origin of moon
NASA Asteroid, Comet and Meteorite info
NASA Comet activities
Comet hidden words page
NASA Kids page - Asteroids
Meteors and meteor showers
Meteor lab
Solar System Formation
Earliest Earth: 2,100,000,000
Years of the Archean Eon
(Levin Ch. 8)
Early History of the Earth and
Origins of Oceans and
Atmosphere
Animation of solar system formation
Mechanism Driving Plate
Motion
Earth's Interior
Modeling the asthenosphere using cornstarch
Earth's interior
USGS - Interior of the Earth
Animation of convection in the mantle
Field Trip to Fernbank Science
Center (Planetarium and
Observatory)
Plate Tectonic Settings
SES2. Students will understand how plate tectonics creates certain geologic features,
materials, and hazards.
a. Distinguish among types of plate tectonic settings produced by plates diverging,
converging, and sliding past each other.
b. Relate modern and ancient geologic features to each kind of plate tectonic setting.
c. Relate certain geologic hazards to specific plate tectonic settings.
d. Associate specific plate tectonic settings with the production of particular groups of
igneous and metamorphic rocks and mineral resources.
e. Explain how plate tectonics creates and destroys sedimentary basins through time.
Plate Tectonic Settings
Earth's Surface Features Size, shape, topography,
distribution of oceans and
continents, sea floor
topography
Plate Tectonics
This Dynamic Earth--The Story
of Plate Tectonics- Contents
[USGS]
Plate Tectonics Underlies All
Earth History (Levin Ch. 7)
Musical plates
Virtual plate reconstructions - WebDogs
Our changing continent - USGS
NOAA age of ocean crust maps
NOAA relief globes
NOAA sediment thickness in oceans
Marianas trench animation
Tectonic Plate Motion
Atlas of the World with Geophysical Boundaries
Showing Oceans, ... - Google Books Result
Seven Paper Models that Describe Faulting in the
Earth Magnetic Patterns- Ocean Floor Pattern
Plotting
ESBD - Resources on Geosphere
Discovering Plate Boundaries
Seisvole and Seismic Waves programs - Alan L.
Jones Plate Puzzle
What is an Earthquake-- Revealing A Fault Plane
with Hypocenters
A Model of Sea-Floor Spreading Teacher's Guide
Real Evidence of a Subducting Plate
The Plate Tectonic Story- A Scientific Jigsaw
Voyage Through Time- Plate Tectonics Flipbook
NASA's Observatorium Teacher's Guides- Plate
Tectonics Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics Kennesaw
CVO Website - Plate Tectonics and Sea-Floor
Spreading Evidence for Plate Tectonics DLESE
Teaching Box Mountain Building
Mapping a Planet's Restless Past
This Dynamic Planet
Plate Tectonic Movement Visualizations
Plate tectonics animations
Discover Our Earth - Interactive Maps
Geologic Hazards and
Plate Tectonics
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Volcano Assignment
Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius- Where on Earth Volcano
World - The Web's Premier Source of Volcano Info
USGS Volcanoes - Teachers Guide (Six lessons)
Volcano information page
Volcano World
Michigan Technological University Volcanoes Page
USGS Volcano Hazards Program
USGS Volcano terminology
Make a paper model of a volcano
QuickTime movie of Popocatepetl eruption
Teacher's Guide to the Geology of Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park
Take the Tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
List of volcano videos
Fire, rocks and water - Volcanoes
Virtual Courseware Earthquake Home
Seismic Waves and the Slinky
Earthquake Assignment
Real Time Earthquake Information
IRIS - Incorporated Research Institutions for
Seismology
IRIS Educational Resources (at bottom of page)
Walk - Run Activity- An S and P Wave Travel
Time Simulation
Earthquake Location - SUNY Binghamton
Whose Fault is it AnywayWorld earthquake data from the last 30 days
(scroll down)
Virtual earthquake exercise 1
Virtual earthquake exercise 2
Dacula, Georgia Earthquake Intensity Exercise
and this map
Plot that Quake
Earthquakes 4 kids
Earthquake resources for teachers and kids
Maps of recent earthquake activity
Recent earthquakes - World
Recent earthquakes - U.S.
Current earthquake list
Earthquakes in Georgia
South Carolina seismic network
Seismic Resources on the Web
St. Louis Univ. earthquake maps
Earthquake epicenters in SE US
New Madrid earthquake
CERI, U. Memphis - Recent US earthquakes
Seismograms, S. Arizona
Make your own seismogram
Modified mercalli intensity scale
Virtual earthquake courseware
Plate tectonics, the cause of earthquakes
San Andreas fault
Influence of plate tectonics
on rock types and mineral
resources
Plate Tectonics and Sedimentary
Basins
Plate Tectonics, Sedimentary
Environment and Rock Cycle
Activity
Geologic Field Trip to Bartow
County - Influence of Geology on
rocks and mineral resources
Human impact
Cenozoic Events (Levin Ch. 15)
Topography and Tectonics
Paleogeography and Geologic Evolution of North
America
Discover Our Earth - Interactive Maps
Clairmont Gneiss
Kennesaw Quarry (Metaquartzdiorite)
Pumpkinvine Creek Fm or Ropes Creek Metabasalt I-75
(amphibolite)
Allatoona Dam on Etowah River
Cooper Furnace
Paga mine (barite)
Corbin Metagranite
Weinman Mineral Museum
Landforms and Landscapes
SES3. Students will explore the actions of water, wind, ice, and gravity that create
landforms and systems of landforms (landscapes).
a. Describe how surface water and groundwater act as the major agents of physical and
chemical weathering.
b. Explain how soil results from weathering and biological processes acting on parent rock.
c. Describe the processes and hazards associated with both sudden and gradual mass
wasting.
d. Relate the past and present actions of ice, wind, and water to landform distribution and
landscape evolution.
e. Explain the processes that transport and deposit material in terrestrial and marine
sedimentary basins, which result, over time, in sedimentary rock.
Weathering and Soil
Rock Weathering
Weathering of rocks and
formation of sediment
Soil
Erosion
Weathering of Rocks and Formation of Sediment
Exercises
BW- Weathered rock in a bottle – compare a
very weathered bedrock sample (e.g. granite) to
unweathered rock of the same type – note
chemical changes in some minerals (e.g.
feldspar changed to kaolinite); place rock dust
from this weathered rock in a 2 liter soda bottle
with water, shake, and notice how fractions
separate.
Rates of Chemical Weathering
Earth's Changing Surface
Using a Stream Table to Investigate Erosion
Control
The Shell Island Dilemma
Sediment Deposition Lab
Mechanical Weathering
Slope Stability
New York Landscape Regions in Google EarthSt. Lawrence Lowlands
Determining a Soil's Textural Classification
Flood!- Overflowing the Banks
How Fast Do Sediment Grains of Different Sizes
Settle?
Into the Abyss- The Case of the Collapsing
Sinkhole
Our Changing Continent
Weathering of Rocks and Minerals
Acid rain and our Nation's Capital
Weathering & Soil - John Butler
Kaolin mining photos
Why is the ocean salty?
Weathering mantles and the age of the Earth
Effects of mechanical weathering
The 12 soil orders - U. Idaho
Laterite images
Georgia Extension Service Soil Analysis
information
Soil classifications
World Reference Base for Soil Resources
World Soil Resources Maps
NYC Performance Stds
The Dust Bowl of the 1930's
PBS website on the Dust Bowl
How glaciers erode bedrock
Landscapes formed by erosion
Mass Wasting
Landforms and Landscape
Evolution
Cenozoic Events (Levin Ch. 15)
Sedimentation
Shorelines and Coastal
Processes
Geology of Stone Mountain, Georgia
Worksheet for Self-Guided Stone Mountain Field
Trip
Field Trip to Stone Mountain, GA
Stone Mountain geologic map
Map Key part 1
Map key part 2
Geology and Geography of Georgia Lab (see
section on Stone Mountain)
Earth Citizenship
SES1e. Identify the transformations and major reservoirs that make up the rock cycle,
hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, and other important geochemical cycles.
2.c. Relate certain geologic hazards to specific plate tectonic settings.
d. Associate specific plate tectonic settings with the production of particular groups of
igneous and metamorphic rocks and mineral resources.
SES3 b. Explain how soil results from weathering and biological processes acting on parent rock.
c. Describe the processes and hazards associated with both sudden and gradual mass wasting.
SES5.e. Describe the hazards associated with extreme weather events and climate change (e.g., hurricanes,
tornadoes, El Niño/La Niña, global warming).
f. Relate changes in global climate to variation in Earth/Sun relationships and to natural and anthropogenic
modification of atmospheric composition.
SES6. a. Relate the nature and distribution of life on Earth, including humans, to the chemistry and availability
of water.
c. Explain how geological and ecological processes interact through time to cycle matter and energy, and how
human activity alters the rates of these processes (e.g., fossil fuel formation and combustion).
Living with Geologic Hazards
Living in Earthquake Country DLESE Teaching
Box
Earthquake Hazards Program at USGS
e-Mission Operation Montserrat
Killer Quake!
Channel 2 News at 10-00
Water, Water, Everywhere; and not a Drop to
Drink! Science Bulletins
Earthquake Shaking- Building Contest and Shake
Table Testing Activity
San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes
The Slippery Slope of Litigating Geologic
Hazards- California's Portuguese Bend Landslide
A Killer Lake
CO2 and You
Volcanoes and Global Climate Change
Big Trouble in Earthquake Country
Living with Weather Hazards
Exploring for Natural
Resources
Human Impacts on Earth
Systems
Mining for Natural Resources
What Materials Are In My CarSatellite images of environmental change
*World Energy Council - Human activities in the
world around us - deforestation and energy use
Investigative Case: The Nancy Creek Challenge
Fenwick Island, Maryland and Beyond- Who
Owns the SandRelocating A Lighthouse
Land and People- Find a Balance - Los Angeles
Where in the World is Carbon DioxideDr. Art's CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
Careers in the Earth Sciences
Geoscience Career Information
Return to Earth & Space Science page
Return to Georgia Geoscience Online
Page created by Pamela J.W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston, GA
Page created June 30-July 13, 2007
Links updated October 2, 2008
This workshop is funded by the “No Child Left Behind” Title II Part A Higher
Education Improving Teacher Quality Grant.