Interactive Lecture Demonstrations to illustrate the nature of torques and on the balancing of torques in static equilibrium.
The learning goals for this lab are the following: 1) to familiarize students with the anatomy and terminology relating to trilobites; 2) to give students experience identifying morphologic structures on real fossil specimens, not just diagrammatic representations; 3) to highlight major events or trends in the evolutionary history and ecology of the Trilobita; and 4) to expose students to the study of macroevolution in the fossil record using trilobites as a case study. This lab will be particularly helpful to those institutions that lack a large teaching collection by providing color photographs of museum specimens.
In this activity, students are introduced to the methods of inquiry in the Earth sciences and how they differ from what is classically taught in school science.
This activity explores how clay affects the permeability of sands, the effect of chemical differences of the clay (cation exchange), and how these results may be applied to low-level radioactive waste disposal sites.
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In this activity, students explore the role of combustion in the carbon cycle. They learn that carbon flows among reservoirs on Earth through processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, combustion, and decomposition, and that combustion of fossil fuels is causing an imbalance. This activity is one in a series of 9 activities.
This activity is a field collection investigation where students gather earth materials and make observations about their collection that leads them to discuss the nature of Earth surface and how it is changing.
This is a college-level adaptation of a chapter from the Earth Exploration Toolbook. The students download global quake data over a time range and use GIS to interpret the tectonic context.
(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)
This activity is an indoor lab where students build a model to observe the effects of weathering and erosion.
In this field activity students will discover some of the factors that influence weathering of rock by making observations, asking questions and completing an investigation of their own design in a local cemetery.
In this lab, students will observe and compare fossils with living organisms.
This activity is a field investigation where students observe and interpret the rocks types, geologic features, and processes typical to the north shore of Lake Superior. Students use their data to develop questions that could be further investigated and to predict the sequence of events leading to the formation of these rocks and features.
Short DescriptionThis activity is a field investigation where students construct a diagram of a lava flow from top to bottom based on observations made in the field and then attempting to make connections between the lava flow features and the resulting shape of the shoreline of Lake Superior.
This activity is a guided inquiry where students develop questions around a group of rocks, use their observation skills to describe the attributes, record and analyze their findings, and use their data, in conjunction with available resources, to categorize the rocks .
This is a field investigation where students will explore and observe sediments within a local gravel pit and from their observation create an investigation that will help to determine the nature of the sediments.
Average inquiry level: Structured
This lab activity provides an introduction to rock classification. Classification is useful because it allows scientists to identify patterns and organize information. In this lab, students investigate rocks by developing their own classification schemes. They then learn how scientists classify rocks, and make connections to rock formation processes. This lab is designed for face-to-face instruction.
Learning objectives for this lab activity:
Identifying types of observations that are useful in identifying rocks
Categorize rocks based on observable physical characteristics, and explain why classification is an important aspect of science
Classify rocks as sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic, and justify why each rock is included in its classification group
Reflect on how their classification schemes compared to the one used by geologists
Key words:rock classification, observation, identification, inquiry, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, jig-saw activity
(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)
In this field investigation students document outcrop descriptions, develop investigable questions, present findings, and interpret a sedimentary rock sequence's depositional history.
In this classroom guided inquiry lesson, students will explore the properties of rocks. Students will make observations of granite and develop a hypothesis explaining what makes a rock.
This activity is a lab presentation where students gather data about rocks from their area and hypothesize what the rocks are and where they came from.
This activity is a field investigation where students will increase their knowledge of SE MN geology including rock layers, fossils, and Karst topography. They will also learn how Karst Geology impacts our water quality.
A field investigation to the Mawikwe Bay Sea Caves of northern Wisconsin along Lake Superior in the winter. Students will investigate deposition of sedimentary rocks and weathering of the rocks to produce sea caves.