Engaging Question part of First Day of Class:Activities
Karl Wirth, Macalester College Course: Dynamic Earth and Global Change 20 students This activity serves a number of functions, including an introduction to the course, a learning prompt that can be revisited ...

Preconceptions: Private Universe part of First Day of Class:Activities
Don Minkel, Adirondack Community College Course: Introduction to Astronomy 22 students This activity is designed to inform students about how misconceptions can interfere with the learning process, and to alert ...

Prior Knowledge, Landscape Photos part of First Day of Class:Activities
Daniel Brownstein, Hastings High School Course: Advanced Geology 26 students Surveying students to assess their prior knowledge serves two purposes: it helps students review information they have (theoretically) ...

Icebreaker: Coat of Arms part of First Day of Class:Activities
Martin Balinsky, Florida A&M University Course: Earth and Space Science for pre-service and inservice teachers 26 students An icebreaker is an activity that helps students (and instructor) to get to know each ...

Attitude Toward Science, Scientists part of First Day of Class:Activities
Prajukti Bhattacharyya, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Course: Introduction to Earth Science 25-32 students Students' negative attitudes toward science can be a surprisingly powerful barrier to learning. ...

What Students Want to Learn part of First Day of Class:Activities
John Wagner, Clemson University Course: Earth Resources 60 students Surveying your students about what they want to learn in a course can tell you a lot about them and their interests, and how to connect your ...

Igneous Rock Classification part of First Day of Class:Activities
John Brady, Smith College Course: Petrology 10 students The most effective way to develop geoscience skills in your students is to make opportunities for them to practice those skills. Although prior knowledge may ...

Is It a Dinosaur? part of First Day of Class:Activities
Jonathan Geisler, Georgia Southern University Course: Dinosaurs, Extinctions, and Disasters 65 students Students are more likely to remember a definition when they have struggled to figure it out, first. The ...

Geology & Daily Life part of First Day of Class:Activities
Tracy Gregg, University at Buffalo Course: Evolution of Earth and the Solar System 80 students Connecting course topics to students' lives is a very effective strategy to motivate their learning. The Activity ...

Grand Canyon Observations & Hypotheses part of First Day of Class:Activities
Pam Nelson, Glendale Community College Course: Introduction to Geology - Historical Geology Maximum of 24 students The most effective way to develop geoscience skills in your students is to make opportunities for ...