The Boxing Day Tsunami
Undergraduate students map data from the National Geophysical Data Center and the United States Geological Survey on Google Earth and study visualizations in order to explore the causes and effects of the Tsunami ...

Investigating slope failure and landscape evolution with red beans and rice!
Students investigate the behavior of a slope profile over geological timescales using a very simple experimental apparatus. The lab allows students to understand concepts of equilibrium, controls on slope profile, ...

Water and Mud: Linking hydrogeology and landscape change
Hydrogeology textbooks usually do a poor job in linking groundwater to Earth's surface processes, yet the two are closely linked. It is important for the hydrogeology student to understand that surface and ...

A Kinesthetic Demonstration for Locating Earthquake Epicenters
A kinesthetic activity for students to understand the technique for locating the epicenter of an earthquake. It is performed indoors and outdoors in three lessons.

Student-centered Experiments on Earthquake Occurrence Using the Seismic/Eruption Program
Students select their own region of interest and interrogate the earthquake catalog to obtain quantitative data on the rate of occurrence of earthquakes of various magnitudes within their chosen region.

Discussion worksheets for popular literature readings on river processes and policy
These five worksheets guide student preparation for in-class discussion of reading assignments from Life on the Mississippi, Cadillac Desert, and The Control of Nature.

Natural Disaster Risk at Home
Students analyze the natural disaster threat and potential mitigation techniques of their (family) home.

The 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami
In this multi-part activity, students study seismograms from different seismic stations recording the Sumatra earthquake of December 26th, 2004 and then determine the epicenter of the quake and track the tsunami it ...

Flooding in the Finger Lakes Region, NY

Quantitative Classroom Exercises
The four exercises give students an opportunity to use their knowledge of graphs, algebra, and maps to solve simple geological problems.

Mentos and soda eruptions- lessons on explosive volcanic eruptions
Students participate in a popular experiment with Mentos candies and soda. This helps them learn about the scientific method, gas saturation, bubble nucleation, and explosive volcanic eruptions.

Locating and Measuring Earthquakes Using Real Seismic Data
The objective is to locate an earthquake and measure its Richter magnitude using real data recorded by seismographs.

Volcanoes Around the Globe
Undergraduate non-majors use the Arcview geographic information system (GIS) to explore volcanic hazards and the geochemistry of volcanic rocks. Students explore geochemical data from the GEOROC global database and ...

Subduction Zone Earthquakes
While working in groups to facilitate peer tutoring, students manipulate a hands-on, physical model to better comprehend several characteristics of subduction zone earthquakes. -

Introduction to Earthquake Seismology Methods
This lab introduces students of aspects of earthquake seismology methods. These include analysis of p-wave amplitude, location of an earthquake epicenter and determining the time of occurrence of an earthquake. ...

Simple Landslide Demo
Demonstration of control of surface friction on slope stability. Simple analogue model uses a wooden board (the slope), a large rock (the landslide), and transparency and rough sand paper. Students anticipate how ...

Environmental Geology of the Area where you Live
Students research and report on the environmental geology (resources and hazards) of the area around their home. The project helps develop students' abilities to apply what they have learned.

Weathering and mass wasting
This class exercise is an opportunity for students to apply textbook information about weathering and mass wasting to local and nationally-recognized surface features, such as Stone Mountain (GA), Half Dome (CA), ...

Determining the 100-year floodplain of the Chippewa River
In this in-class activity recurrence intervals are calculated for ten flooding events on the Chippewa River near Eau Claire Wisconsin. The students use 1:24000 topographic maps to determine the extent of the ...

Mercalli Earthquake Activity
A jigsaw process that allows students to analyze first person descriptions of earthquakes and assess several earthquake features.