Curated OER
Settling Rates of Different Size Particles
High schoolers discover how and why the settling rate of particles differs with the size of the particles. Using different soil samples, they calculate the amount of time it takes for a sample to settle in water for up to forty minutes....
Curated OER
Determine Soil Particle Size
Students examine various soil samples in groups. Using the samples, they identify the characteristics of them and calculate percolation and infiltration rates. They use this information to discover why some species can survive in one...
Curated OER
Comapring New Jersey Sediments
Students identify various types of sand by its uniformity of grain size. Students use a microscope to graphically compare particles by their degree of roundness and sphericity. Students compare their observations recorded in the table...
Lakeland Central School District
Erosion and Deposition
If you are looking for a straightforward presentation about erosion and deposition with an emphasis on rivers, look no further. While not super flashy or entertaining, vocabulary is presented simply and accompanied by pictures to...
Curated OER
To Protect Your Streams, Protect Your Mountains
Students build and experiment with a watershed to understand the effects of pollution. In this movement of water lesson, students work in groups creating rock formations and change the viscosity of the liquids falling down the mountain....
Curated OER
Marine Environmental Geology
Students take this course as an introduction to the aspects of marine geology and oceanography that affect the environment and marine resources. Topics include estuarine oceanography and sediments, eutrophication of coastal waters,...
Curated OER
Porosity
Middle schoolers predict and test the porosity of sediments with particles of different sizes. They name two objects that they think has pores. Students define the term porosity and pores. They comprehend that an aquifer is the porous...
Curated OER
Is There Sewage in My Sample?
Students explore the proximity of the Hudson Shelf Valley and the Hudson Canyon to one of the Nation's most populated areas. They study that from 1987 to 1992, two dumpsites in the Hudson Shelf Valley and Hudson Canyon, one 12 miles
Curated OER
Quake Clues
High schoolers study earthquakes and how sediment accumulations are used for past information on earthquakes. In this earthquake instructional activity students interpret sediment cores and describe turbidites.
Curated OER
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Learners compare the weathering of different-sized materials. Comparisons are made and data analyzed to reach conclusions about the process of weathering. Applications can be made for the higher grades.
Curated OER
Rock Abrasion
Students discover how abrasion works on rocks. In this science lesson, students experiment by showing how abrasion works by using sugar cubes.
Curated OER
Density Currents
Students study how fluids of differing densities interact with one another, how densities of fluids can be changed, and how density currents transport and deposit tremendous amounts of sediment in lakes and in the ocean.
Curated OER
Exploring For Copper Deposits
Young scholars examine ore deposits and identify factors in their origin. They analyze geologic maps, and locate porphyry copper deposits on a sediment geochemistry map.
Curated OER
Ocean Shoreline
In this shorelines worksheet, students review some of the features of an ocean shoreline such as barrier islands, longshore current, and shoreline sediments. This worksheet has 5 matching and 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Manatee Endangered
High schoolers (or middle schoolers) research the endangered manatee and the Endangered Species Act. They choose a local animal that is threatened or endangered and attempt to find out what is being done to protect it. Short, but sweet,...
Curated OER
Metamorphic Magic!
Students explore the steps involved in the formation of metamorphic rock as they prepare a cookie receipe. As part of the process, sedimentary rocks are created and changed through heat to a metamorphic cookie.
National Park Service
Erosion
A set of PowerPoint slides supports a lecture or class review of weathering and erosion. Viewers learn the definition of each and examine various photos for evidence. Erosion is further depicted as caused by wind, water, and ice....
National Park Service
Caves, Canyons, Cactus, and Critters
Mother Nature's Gravel Company is open for business! The unit includes four lessons covering weathering and erosion. Experiments are simple to complete and young geologists compare notes to see who makes the biggest ice wedge, moves...
Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Measure for Measure
How does your class measure up? Young scientists create a scale drawing of the JOIDES Resolution in a collaborative activity. The lesson incorporates mathematical principles with deep-sea exploration to focus on enhancing measurement...
Curated OER
Measure for Measure
Young mathematicians work to recognize the relationship between their scale models of the Joides research vessel and the real vessel. They calculate the relationships between various parts of the ship using fractions, ratios, and...
University of Wisconsin
Follow the Drop
Young surveyors look for patterns in water flow around campus. Using a map of the school (that you will need to create), they mark the direction of the path of water. They also perform calculations for the volume that becomes runoff. The...
Curated OER
Relative Age Dating
Modeling dough and paper cutouts in science class? Learn about how relative age dating concepts, like the Law of Superposition and cross-cutting relationships, can be used to describe the formation of sedimentary layers.
Curated OER
Rock of Ages
Students are given a classification table and samples from their location. They locate their samples on the classification table using the characteristics used in rock identification.
Michigan Sea Grant
What's in This Water?
Pupils investigate the biological and chemical characteristics of water to determine where purple loosestrife occurs. They create data sheets to record water quality tests in several locations and work in groups to conduct the water...