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What's the Difference?
Students investigate volcanic processes at convergent and divergent
tectonic plate boundaries. They read and analyze diagrams, complete a worksheet, and write an essay.
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Earthquake Experiments
Students discuss the effects of earthquakes. For this earth science lesson, students create earthquake models and earthquake-proof buildings. They construct their own seismograph.
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Cruising the Mantle
Students explore the plate boundaries of the earth. Through the use of video, internet and hands-on activities, students examine the types of plate boundaries. They create a model to illustrate the movement and interaction of the...
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Reduced Fare
High schoolers discover the relationship between tectonic plate boundaries and the communities of life that thrive at such boundaries. In this biology lesson plan, students find that methane from oxidized carbon in sediments provides...
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The BIG One
Students observe an earthquake demonstration. They research an earthquake and use color dots to plot the location of each of their earthquakes on the large map.
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It's Not Your Fault
Students study the San Andreas Fault, calculate its movements, and compare the movements on both sides. In this earthquake lesson students use the Internet to track movement, and calculate movement using a spreadsheet.
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Earthquakes
Sixth graders explain that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults. They list the major geologic events including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mountain building, which are the result of crustal plate...
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Life Along The Ring of Fire
Middle schoolers explore the concept of plate tectonics using research methods. The understanding will aid them to form an educated opinion about the significance of the concept upon the formation of landforms.
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Life of An Island
Pupils identify the steps in the life cycle of an island. They label islands in the correct stage of their life cycle and illustrate the process themselves. They also review the concept of plate tectonics.
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Mapping Seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska
Learners describe major topographic features on the Patton Seamount, and interpret two-dimensional topographic data. They create three-dimensional models of landforms from two-dimensional topographic data.
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AdVENTurous Findings on the Deep Sea Floor
Students conduct investigations to observe formations of precipitates, then create models of developing hydrothermal vents. They compare the models with the actual hydrothermal vents developing along the Galapagos Rift.
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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...
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Pangaea Puzzle
Students test evidence for the existence of Pangaea in the Earth's past. They create a current map of the Earth's continents and put them together like a puzzle. They compare this result to a a picture of the shape of Pangaea.
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Incorporating 3D Visualizations into Your Classroom
Students make observations through 3-D visualizations. They explore scientific and geologic processes through the use of 3-D pictures.
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Geology of Connecticut
Students examine the geology of Connecticut, including plate tectonics, glaciation, and fossil formation.
After reviewing past lessons, they write essays about what life may have been like in the Mesozoic Period. Following a field...
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Structure of the Earth
Eighth graders examine the forces that are constantly acting on the Earth. They describe the theory of tectonic plates and demonstrate the two kinds of earthquake waves. They also examine the role of volcanoes in the structure of the...
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Waves Lesson Plan
Students demonstrate an understanding of tsunamis and possible causes. In this investigative lesson students view a video and explore earthquakes and movement of tectonic plates.
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Tracking Current "Earth" Events
Eighth graders utilize Internet research skills, and practice their communication skills by presenting their research to the clas. They actively consider the types of hazards for humans associated with Natural Disaters and ways that...
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Bellwork for Week 10
In this bellwork worksheet, students answer questions about the Hawaiian islands formation, about science class in general, about rocks and minerals and about experimental design.
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Geology Word List
In this science worksheet, students review the vocabulary words for the separate categories related to the concept of geology.
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Fossil Fuels (Part III), The Geology of Coal
Do not overlook this set of lessons just because your school does not have a data analysis system. There is plenty of material here to administer a complete mini unit on the formation, distribution, and properties of coal. Since it...
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Volcanoes: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Fifth graders explore volcanoes and the rocks they produce using the Internet. The lab portion of the lesson prompts young scientists to compare and describe igneous rocks. Next, they critique a pair or more of...
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Volcanoes: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Young geologists begin exploring volcanoes of different structures and states: active, extinct, or dormant. During the lab, they make three models and compare different types of volcanoes, including composite, cinder cone, and...
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Volcanoes: First Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Introduce young geologists to types of volcanoes during the pre-lab. First graders explore how different liquids flow with an experiment on viscosity to simulate how different types of lava flow. Next, they learn...