The Use of Cube Puzzle and Toilet Paper Roll Model in Teaching The Nature of Science
This is a hands-on activity in scientific method that uses inexpensive materials such as carton boxes, toilet paper roll tube, strings and toothpicks. It engages the students to conduct pattern observation, prediction, testing and ends up with a model construction. It also encourages thinking outside the box, group discussion and creation of individual cube puzzles.

Riparian Plant Lab
In this field exercise for an introductory environmental science course, students investigate plant cover and type in a riparian area using transects. The final assignment is a lab report that includes a summary data table, a graph of cover types along their transect and an analysis of riparian health.

History and Nature of Science
This course examines the development of science, mathematics, and technology in order to understand our natural world. Specifically, this course focuses on the nature of scientific knowledge that is created through ...

Geoscience Fundamentals
Geoscience Fundamentals is a workshop-style course that introduces sophomore-level geoscience majors to very basic philosophical, methodological, and historical foundations of the geosciences. As described in the ...

Calculating the radius of the Earth
Science students often have difficulty thinking about large spatial scales. The purpose of the exercise is to redo Eratosthenes' calculation of the radius of the Earth using data from to sites in ancient Egypt. The excercise teaches about the methodology of science - how Eratothenes figured it out - rather than worried about what the "right" answer is. It can also be used to discuss the role of models in geological thinking.

Using Geophysical Field Studies as the Focus for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an Introductory Geophysics Course
Paul Kelso, Geology and Physics Departments, Lake Superior State University.This page is a supplement to the original course description found hereShort description of the course:Using field geophysics projects as ...

Geologic Disasters and the Environment
Kaatje Kraft, Department of Physical Sciences, Mesa Community College.This page is a supplement to the original course description found hereShort description of the course:This course teaches the essentials of ...

Advanced Field Geology
This is a field-based course, taught during four weekends, spread out over the semester. Each trip generally visits a different locality in order to expose students to diverse types of geology, everything from ...

Using Scientific Data For Multi-Disciplinary Science Instruction (PD for K-12 Teachers)
Using Scientific Data is a professional development course for in-service K-12 teachers focused on climate change and Earth system science that also explores how climate concepts can be incorporated into courses ...

Exploring the nature of geoscience using cartoon cards
In this activity, students work in groups to put a set of cartoon cards in order, much in the way that we might assemble a geologic history. The primary goal of the activity is to explore the nature of science in general and the nature of geoscience or historical science specifically, without requiring any content knowledge.