Geology of Yellowstone National Park part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students examine and interpret the geologic map of Yellowstone National Park, focusing on its volcanic history.

"ZirChron" Virtual Zircon Analysis App part of Teaching Examples
Mark Schmitz, Boise State University
This web-based app is designed to help students evaluate a radioisotopic age and its uncertainty based upon the collection of data, the application of statistics, and the interpretation of geological and analytical ...

Olympus Mons and Hawaii part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students estimate the volume of Olympus Mons and the volume of lava that has erupted from the Hawaiian hotspot and compare them.

Investigating Plate Tectonics with Google Earth part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Beth Pratt-Sitaula, EarthScope
Students examine data sets of topography, bathymetry, volcano location, earthquake location and size, and ocean floor age in Google Earth to determine the location and attributes of different types of plate ...

Tectonics of Fiction part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Kyle Fredrick, Pennsylvania Western University - California
This writing project of our Tectonics course is assigned at the start of the semester and due near the end. It is a group project that encourages creativity, cooperation, and synthesis of an entire ...

Recognizing and mapping faults using lidar and field data part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Anne Egger, Central Washington University
In this activity, students create a geologic map and cross-section of the Fish Springs cinder cone and surrounding area in the Owens Valley, CA, using a high-resolution DEM developed from airborne lidar data as a ...

Geology of Hawaii part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students examine a geologic map of Hawaii and begin to decipher it.

When and How Did Continental Crust Form? part of Teaching Examples
Dave Mogk, Montana State University-Bozeman
Many models have been proposed regarding the timing and mechanisms that first formed the continental crust. The purpose of this exercise is to help students explore the question of crustal genesis and evolution ...

The Pet Rock Project - Developing Professional Communication in a Petrology Course part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Professional Communications Projects:Examples
Darrell Henry, Professor of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University

Igneous Rocks Research Project part of Teaching Examples
Sarah Carmichael, Appalachian State University
Students work in groups to design a research project on a local igneous rock unit. Students are responsible for project design, sample collection, data collection and analysis, and collaborative writing involving ...

What Goes into Making Volcanic Arc Magmas, and How Do We Know It? part of MARGINS Data in the Classroom:MARGINS Mini-Lessons
Jeff Ryan, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg
This activity is a directed reading exercise focused on papers that have been key to our understanding of the major source contributors to subduction zone volcanic rocks.

Student Field Guide part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Katherine Boggs, Mount Royal University
This activity was inspired by the "Pet Rock" project of Daryl Henry. I developed this activity to be a capstone experience for our students. During the fall 4th year field trip, students are responsible ...

What is it? part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Geoffrey Pignotta, Carleton University
This classroom activity involves students interpreting geologic structures presented in photos during lecture. Photos are shown either after topics or towards the end of class and one student is called upon to ...

Exercise on the Mesozoic/Cenozoic Development of the North American Cordillera part of Structural Geology and Tectonics:Structure, Geophysics, and Tectonics 2012:Activities
Steven Wojtal, Oberlin College
This assignment is intended to have students use the map reading skills they have learned in previous labs and their understanding of the lower crust and upper mantle derived from classroom lectures and ...

Pet Rock Project: A Semester-long Exercise for Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology part of Teaching Examples
Darrell Henry, Louisiana State University
The pet rock project is a semester-long project in which each student randomly selects an igneous or metamorphic rock from the instructor or brings in a rock from an appropriate locality, and follows all of the ...