An in-class introductory level activity for science and non-science majors that explores …
An in-class introductory level activity for science and non-science majors that explores the properties of sand in order to identify depositional environments.
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The objective of this project is to use a sample of sand …
The objective of this project is to use a sample of sand from a give are to tell its geologic history. Each student is given a 50 mL tube of sand labeled with the latitude and longitude of where it was found. They must then use this information along with analysis of the sand itself to tell the story of its formation.
Students are given colored sand and a plexiglas box with a sliding …
Students are given colored sand and a plexiglas box with a sliding base. They make relatively thin, flat layers of sand (each layer has its own color)completely covering the base of the boxes then they move the base in one direction forcing the sand to pile up against the backstop side of the box. Then they measure the topography, make a topo map and construct cross sections. Has minimal/no quantitative component
Student group (3-4 persons) remediation studies are an effective way to apply …
Student group (3-4 persons) remediation studies are an effective way to apply learned hydrogeology concepts to real world problems. The Crooked Creek gas station with leaking underground storage tanks is just one of 4 to 5 projects which students can work on as a final project (2 to 3 weeks) in a hydrogeology course. The student group (3 to 4 persons) is given information regarding a leaking UST at a gasoline station in western Pennsylvania; a page detailing the history of the problem and a small sketch map if the site. They must then (over a 3 week period) research the geology/hydrogeology of the site, produce maps and cross-sections, and complete a detailed report, budget and timetable which summarize their remediation plans. Group members also give a 20 to 30 minute summary presentation to the rest of the class.
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This 30 minute activity engages students in ordering and spacing geologic history …
This 30 minute activity engages students in ordering and spacing geologic history events on a meter stick. Students engage in an inquiry cycle, individually first, then with a partner before receiving feedback on their model. This process scaffolds their temporal reasoning of the vastness of geologic time.
The Science of Disasters etextbook is a Softchalk activity designed to give …
The Science of Disasters etextbook is a Softchalk activity designed to give students an introduction to disaster terminology including risk and resiliency. It is typically used as a pre-reading assignment for non-science majors in an introductory disasters class.
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Students use compasses and bar magnets to simulate the collection of sea …
Students use compasses and bar magnets to simulate the collection of sea floor magnetic polarity data. Even though the students do not directly observe the magnets, they use the information to infer tectonic processes present at the mid-ocean ridges and calculate the spreading rates for two different ridges.
This video features Dr. Gary Griggs, a scientist with the National Research …
This video features Dr. Gary Griggs, a scientist with the National Research Council, discussing predictions for sea-level rise on the West Coast states. The video includes effective visualizations and animations of the effects of plate tectonics and sea level rise on the West Coast.
In this lesson, students learn about major landforms (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, …
In this lesson, students learn about major landforms (e.g., mountains, rivers, plains, valleys, canyons and plateaus) and how they occur on the Earth's surface. They learn about the civil and geotechnical engineering applications of geology and landforms, including the design of transportation systems, mining, mapping and measuring natural hazards.
This Western Mining History database uses Mineral Resources Data System to list …
This Western Mining History database uses Mineral Resources Data System to list known Colorado historical mines by county. Each county site has links to the known mines within its borders. Some are known and named, others are unnamed. Mines should be assumed to be on private property unless other research is conducted. Data provided for each mine site include: Name, State, County, Elevation, Primary Mineral Mined, Latitude and Longitude and a link to Google Maps. Photos are provided where available. Additional information for some Mines are satellite photos, and ownership, business and historical records. Mining History is an historical site that provides information on mining, mining towns, the gold and silver rush, and Photos and maps of the western United States. This is a great database for student historical research or data and statistics classes. Consider becoming a member or making a donation to help further the work of the site.
This module examines different sediment dispersal systems and their relationships and controls …
This module examines different sediment dispersal systems and their relationships and controls on margin stratigraphy and geometry, using data sets from the Fly and Waipaoa river systems.
This is a Stratigraphy Sedimentary Petrology field trip stop at an exceptional …
This is a Stratigraphy Sedimentary Petrology field trip stop at an exceptional glacial outwash gravel quarry, where students measure, identify and count clast types, measure cross-bedding directions, and examine the early stages of lithification of gravel to conglomerate. The gravel deposits are also representative of the local surficial aquifer material that lies nearby in the subsurface.
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This activity challenges students to write three rock descriptions and edit the …
This activity challenges students to write three rock descriptions and edit the work of their peers. The goal is for students to realize the importance of rock descriptions, learn how to write them, and gain practice.
The QFR diagram is a useful technique in Geoscience and Engineering to …
The QFR diagram is a useful technique in Geoscience and Engineering to decide the rock types, tectonic settings and depositional history of rock samples. Ternary diagrams are widely used in various disciplines of Science. We teach the QFR diagram every year in Sedimentation and Stratigraphy.
In this exercise, we incorporate cooperative learning that students work in groups of two to finish the problem set. Students can obtain immediate feedback from their peers, check their understanding by explaining their thoughts to each other, and promptly identify questions or misunderstandings of the course materials.
This problem set is designed by Man-Yin Tsang and Carl-Georg Bank based on an earlier problem set and thin section data from Andrew Miall at the University of Toronto. It is prepared for the course ESS331 in the Department of Earth Sciences.
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The process of mud settling in a graduated cylinder was filmed as …
The process of mud settling in a graduated cylinder was filmed as a time lapse series over about 2 hours. Students observe and analyze the sedimentation process.
(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.)
Volcanic eruptions can produce large amounts of debris in the form of …
Volcanic eruptions can produce large amounts of debris in the form of sediment. Volcanic sediment is a serious hazard that can flood river valleys, bury homes and wash out bridges and roads. In the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, many billions of cubic meters of sediment flowed down from the mountain through the surrounding river valleys, which caused major flooding and damage to the homes of people living downstream.
In the “Sediment on the Move†storyline, fourth-grade students explore the hazards of volcanic sediment and solve the problem of managing these hazards. This robustly developed and problem-based learning unit supports teachers in creating a rigorous and rich experience for students through use of fully-developed teacher support resources (Google Slides for students ready to be used), rich media (videos, images, first-person narratives), and a plethora of engaging and 3-dimensional formative assessments.
Through various activities, scientific inquiry and exploration, students become acquainted with the size and scale of volcanic sediment as a long-term hazard for communities that live downstream of volcanoes. In this unit students design their own community and roleplay as city council members. Students collaborate with characters who model real-world career professionals (such as engineers, geologists and emergency managers) who help them design their own solutions to the problem of volcanic sediment. Through science, teamwork, and communication, students generate and compare multiple solutions to help their community be prepared for the hazards and challenges from volcanic sediment. At the end of the storyline, students create recommendations and design plans to share with other communities facing similar challenges.
This lesson explores factors that control the character and fate of carbon …
This lesson explores factors that control the character and fate of carbon delivered by rivers from the continents to the oceans, using mapped characteristics and data from 12 different rivers, including the MARGINS Waipaoa and Fly systems.
This project is a modified version of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute …
This project is a modified version of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Student Leadership Council's Seismic Design Competition. This project has teams of students work to research, plan, build and analyze a cost-effective model building that is designed for seismic loading and has architectural aesthetic appeal. The models are subjected to multiple ground motions, which represent different return period earthquakes. Video of the project can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkruBhAyC5s
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