Learning Assessment #4 - Metamorphic Rocks (2011) part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Leslie Reid, University of Calgary; Michelle Speta, University of Calgary
An in-class activity that tests students' understanding of metamorphic rocks and processes.

Virtual Rock Lab part of Introductory Courses:Activities
clark giboney, UNAVCO
Students use a website to identify rocks based on their properties.

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

Atmospheric Vertical Structure and the First Law of Thermodynamics part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Anthony Hansen, Saint Cloud State University
This set of homework problems is intended to help students begin to discover the importance and utility of conservation principles derived from the First Law of Thermodynamics and provide a first step in evolving from the p-V diagrams the students have seen in their physics coursework toward the thermodynamic diagrams used in meteorology.

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 ...

Back-of-the-Envelope Calculations: Rate of Lava Flow part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Barb Tewksbury, Hamilton College
Question In 1983, an eruption began at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii that has proved to be the largest and longest-lived eruption since records began in 1823. Lava has poured out of the volcano at an average rate of ...

Olivine Thermometry part of Teaching Examples
Keith Putirka, California State University-Fresno
This problem set is usually given as a homework assignment (to my Mineralogy class, or in Ig and Met Pet), after some sample calculations performed in class. It allows students to practice calculating mineral ...

Florida River Project: Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks lab part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Kim Hannula, Fort Lewis College
This fairly traditional rocks-in-boxes lab has been incorporated into a semester-long project. At the end of the lab, students apply their rock-identification skills to rocks from their study area.

Calculating Rb-Sr Isochrons part of Teaching Examples
Andy Barth, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
This is a spreadsheet that I use in petrology to walk students through calculating Rb-Sr isochrons and talking about isotope heterogeneity and sampling at various scales. The example exercise is the Tuolumne ...

Petrographic Problem Solving Assignments part of Teaching Examples
Jeffrey Templeton, Western Oregon University
Petrographic problem-solving (PPS) assignments are a series of mini-projects in which students conduct two-week scientific investigations on thin sections and hand samples selected by the instructor. For each PPS ...

A field trip to explore rock formation and tectonics of southern California part of Geoscience in the Field:Activities
Andy Barth, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
In this contribution, we provide an example of a one-day trip to examine Proterozoic metamorphic and Mesozoic intrusive igneous rocks that are easily accessible along and near roads in southern California. The ...