Runaway Greenhouse Effect Exercise
Rebecca Teed, Wright State University-Main Campus
This site has a collection of role-playing exercises that provide the students with equations and data to use in collaborative problem-solving. -

Understanding the Carbon Cycle: A Jigsaw Approach
David Hastings, Eckerd College
In this "jigsaw" exercise, each student is assigned one of five geochemical processes in the carbon cycle to research, fully understand, and then explain to others in groups of five. At the end of class ...

Poleward Heat Transport Jigsaw
E. Christa Farmer, Hofstra University
Based on great plate tectonic exercise by Sawyer et al. (2005 JGE), this small-group exercise with maps of data about earth's energy balance helps students visualize poleward heat transport.

Tracers in the hydrologic cycle: A jigsaw activity
Peter Lea, National Science Foundation
Using a jigsaw approach, students investigate biogeochemical transformations (nitrate, silica, pH and conductivity) of water as it moves through the hydrologic cycle. The resulting conceptual framework facilitates ...

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Earth Materials and Ancient Cultures
Wayne Powell, CUNY Brooklyn College
Students investigate properties of earth materials through the lens of art and archeology. It allows ties to other required core curriculum courses (particularly classics and art history), and integrates the use of ...

Physical Properties of Minerals and Determinative Techniques
Ken Bladh
This activity uses cooperative learning to identify minerals in hand sample based on physical properties. The "Jigsaw" pedagogy upon which this lab is based provides the environment for four succeeding ...

Data, Accuracy and Precision
Scott Linneman, Western Washington University
This first lab exercise requires lower-division geomorph students to generate and compare three topographic data sets for a small feature on campus.

Exploring Soil Development & Conservation of Mass
Clifford Riebe, University of Wyoming
This activity aims to develop understanding of soil formation using the principles of conservation of mass. This is best applied to a chronosequence of â 2 soils/deposits, such as a set of terraces or glacial ...

MER (Mars Exploration Rover ) Landing Site Selection
Eric Grosfils, Pomona College
Via a jigsaw role-playing exercise in which students become geologists, astrobiologists and engineers, real data and available constrains are used to identify landing sites for the MER rovers. A debate format is ...

Mars Landing Site Selection: An exercise in reading geologic maps and other geologic data sets
Tracy Gregg, SUNY College at Buffalo
Students use available Mars data to select the next rover landing sites, given appropriate engineering, geologic and biologic constraints. -