Teaching Activities
These teaching activities have been contributed to the collection by faculty members across the country. You can contribute an activity of your own to the collection using the Teach the Earth contribute form as well.
Resource Type
Learning Outcomes
- Design a data strategy 21 matches Design a field strategy to collect or select data in order to answer a geologic question.
- Collect data 28 matches Collect accurate and sufficient data on field relationships and record these using disciplinary conventions (field notes, map symbols, etc.).
- Synthesize geologic data 32 matches Synthesize geologic data and integrate with core concepts and skills into a cohesive spatial and temporal scientific interpretation.
- Interpret systems and processes 24 matches Interpret earth systems and past/current/future processes using multiple lines of spatially distributed evidence.
- Develop an argument 30 matches Develop an argument that is consistent with available evidence and uncertainty.
- Communicate clearly 31 matches Communicate clearly using written, verbal, and/or visual media (e.g., maps, cross-sections, reports) with discipline-specific terminology appropriate to your audience.
- Work independently and collaboratively 23 matches Work effectively independently and collaboratively (e.g., commitment, reliability, leadership, open for advice, channels of communication, supportive, inclusive).
- Reflect on personal strengths/challenges 7 matches Reflect on personal strengths and challenges (e.g. in study design, safety, time management, independent and collaborative work).
- Demonstrate professional behaviors 21 matches Demonstrate behaviors expected of professional geoscientists (e.g., time management, work preparation, collegiality, health and safety, ethics).
Capstone Field Experience
Results 1 - 20 of 80 matches
Measuring the Inclination and Declination of the Earth's magnetic field with a smartphone
Avradip Ghosh, University of Houston-University Park
The poles of the Earth's magnetic field are not precisely aligned with the geographic north and south poles and, in fact, vary continuously. This activity introduces to students the Earth's magnetic ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Field Activity, Virtual Field Trip, Project, Lab Activity
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Working with Point Clouds in CloudCompare and Classifying with CANUPO
Sharon Bywater-Reyes, University of Northern Colorado
In spring 2020, the world was hit by a pandemic that spread globally by March, causing universities and most of the world to move to remote means. Summer field camps, long hailed as a rite of passage in the ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip, Field Activity, Classroom Activity, Lab Activity
Learning Outcomes: Synthesize geologic data , Interpret systems and processes , Develop an argument
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
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Getting started with Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry
Beth Pratt-Sitaula, UNAVCO
Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry method uses overlapping images to create a 3D point cloud of an object or landscape. It can be applied to everything from fault scarps to landslides to topography. This ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Field Activity, Lab Activity
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Design a data strategy
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Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse – Field Trip 4
Steve Whitmeyer, James Madison University
The Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse is a series of 4 virtual field trips that cross the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge geologic provinces in northwestern Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. This ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Communicate clearly , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Work independently and collaboratively , Develop an argument, Interpret systems and processes , Collect data, Synthesize geologic data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
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Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse – Field Trip 1
Steve Whitmeyer, James Madison University
The Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse is a series of 4 virtual field trips that cross the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge geologic provinces in northwestern Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. This ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Develop an argument, Communicate clearly , Synthesize geologic data , Collect data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
Learn more about this review process.
Virtual Field Trip to the Cagles Mill Outcrop, Indiana
Max Christie, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
During this virtual field trip students will write sedimentary facies descriptions, draw a stratigraphic column, and develop a set of paleogeographic maps of the Cagles Mill Spillway outcrop. This site is a ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Virtual Field Trip, Field Activity, Lab Activity
See the activity page for details.
Geological Mapping of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico
Joseph Meert, University of Florida
This is useful as a first field mapping exercise (virtual) in a traditional capstone field camp course. Students will map flat-lying, but faulted Mesozoic strata near Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Skills required in ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Reflect on personal strengths/challenges , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Work independently and collaboratively , Design a data strategy , Communicate clearly , Collect data, Synthesize geologic data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Surviving Extinction, A Journey Through Time
Wendy Taylor, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Explore prehistoric environments over the past 350 million years, make good decisions to avoid deadly predators, and discover real expedition sites as you chart your own path through time. 99% of all species that ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Virtual Field Trip
Capstone Field Experience: Not a Capstone
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Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology: A virtual field experience using Google Earth, GIS, and TAK
Rachel Bosch, Northern Kentucky University
Students will have the opportunity to select and virtually explore the hydrogeology and geomorphology of a karst landscape using Google Earth (or perhaps Google Mars or Google Moon if they so choose), lidar ...
Resource Type: Activities:Writing Assignment, Project, Lab Activity, Classroom Activity
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Communicate clearly , Reflect on personal strengths/challenges , Interpret systems and processes , Develop an argument, Collect data, Design a data strategy , Synthesize geologic data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Magnetometry at home: a hands-on survey with your smartphone
Charly Bank, University of Toronto
Using a free app downloaded to their smartphone or tablet device students engage in collecting magnetic field data. Students have to design and document a survey, and are encouraged to do simple quality control. ...
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity, Virtual Field Trip, Field Activity
Learning Outcomes: Synthesize geologic data , Develop an argument, Communicate clearly , Collect data, Design a data strategy
See the activity page for details.
Karst Hydrogeology: A virtual field introduction using Google Earth and GIS
Rachel Bosch, Northern Kentucky University
Students will have the opportunity to select and virtually explore the hydrogeology and geomorphology of a karst landscape using Google Earth, lidar data-sourced DEM(s) and geologic maps, and GIS software (QGIS) ...
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity, Field Activity, Project, Writing Assignment
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Reflect on personal strengths/challenges , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Communicate clearly , Collect data, Develop an argument, Synthesize geologic data , Interpret systems and processes
See the activity page for details.
Quaternary mapping in Bells Canyon as an introduction to ArcGIS Pro
Karen Gran, University of Minnesota-Duluth
This lab is intended to take a GIS novice and introduce them to mapping in ArcGIS Pro by producing a Quaternary map of Bells Canyon in Utah. It can be used as a first GIS exercise to introduce select skills to the ...
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Learning Outcomes: Communicate clearly , Work independently and collaboratively , Develop an argument, Synthesize geologic data , Collect data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Geological Mapping of a Virtual Landscape
Mark Helper, The University of Texas at Austin
This virtual mapping exercise is part video game, part map prediction and interpretation. You will navigate a virtual landscape to "collect" outcrops and their field notes, recording your observations on ...
Resource Type: Activities:Field Activity, Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Develop an argument, Synthesize geologic data , Collect data
Capstone Field Experience: Not a Capstone
See the activity page for details.
Sandy Hollow Virtual Field Geology Exercise
Andrew Laskowski, Montana State University-Bozeman
This is a Google Earth based virtual field exercise focused on Sandy Hollow, near Block Mountain and McCartney Mountain in southwest Montana. This is a classic field locality in the Montana portion of the Sevier ...
Resource Type: Activities:Field Activity
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Reflect on personal strengths/challenges , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Develop an argument, Collect data, Communicate clearly , Synthesize geologic data , Interpret systems and processes
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Geology of Yosemite Valley
Nicolas Barth, University of California-Riverside
This is a four-part module designed to be flexible in duration and student grade-level. (1) Geology of Yosemite Valley Virtual Field Trip. A 43-stop web-based Google Earth tour with embedded views, hyperlinked ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Writing Assignment, Lab Activity, Project
Learning Outcomes: Develop an argument, Communicate clearly , Interpret systems and processes , Synthesize geologic data , Collect data
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Virtual Geologic Mapping Exercise at Lough Fee
Steve Whitmeyer, James Madison University
The Virtual Geologic Mapping Exercice is designed to simulate an introductory field mapping exercise. Students load a KML file in Google Earth that includes real outcrop data in the form of dots and orientation ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip, Field Activity, Lab Activity
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Communicate clearly , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Synthesize geologic data , Design a data strategy , Interpret systems and processes , Develop an argument
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
See the activity page for details.
Virtual Geological Mapping Field Trip - Glens of Tekoa, New Zealand
Travis Horton, University of Canterbury; Katherine Pedley
Geological mapping involves the observation, recording, presentation and interpretation of field data, all fundamental skills required by practicing geologists. This virtual geological mapping exercise enables ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip, Field Activity
See the activity page for details.
Introduction to Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Sharon Bywater-Reyes, University of Northern Colorado; Beth Pratt-Sitaula, UNAVCO
In spring 2020, the world was hit by a pandemic that spread globally by March, causing universities and most of the world to move to remote means. Summer field camps, long hailed as a rite of passage in the ...
Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity, Field Activity, Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Communicate clearly , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Work independently and collaboratively , Interpret systems and processes , Develop an argument, Synthesize geologic data
Learn more about this review process.
Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse – Field Trip 3
Steve Whitmeyer, James Madison University
The Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Orogen Traverse is a series of 4 virtual field trips that cross the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge geologic provinces in northwestern Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. This ...
Resource Type: Activities:Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Communicate clearly , Develop an argument, Collect data, Synthesize geologic data , Interpret systems and processes
Capstone Field Experience: Capstone (virtual)
Learn more about this review process.
Jurassic Quad Online Geologic Mapping Project
Andrew Laskowski, Montana State University-Bozeman
This is an online geologic mapping activity designed to mimic the experience of conducting a geologic mapping project over several days in a field area. Students download a physical topographic basemap and then ...
Resource Type: Activities:Field Activity, Project, Virtual Field Trip
Learning Outcomes: Work independently and collaboratively , Demonstrate professional behaviors , Communicate clearly , Develop an argument, Synthesize geologic data , Interpret systems and processes
Learn more about this review process.