Case Study: Coastal Stabilization Structures
Al Trujillo, Palomar College
This ocean activity is used to help students analyze different solutions to a real-world case study of the problem of using various coastal stabilization structures. It is intended to be used as a small group ...

Teaching Climate Science by Studying Misinformation
Daniel Bedford, Weber State University
Students critically evaluate the arguments about climate change raised in a climate contrarian newspaper op-ed. This strengthens student critical thinking and content knowledge.

What are the causes and effects of ENSO?
Sarah Bednarz, Texas A & M University
This NASA Mission Geography module focuses on the evidence for global climate change. In the specific activity on ENSO, students role play policy makers deciding how to allocate Peru's resources to manage for ...

Marine Noise Pollution Silent Socratic Dialogue
David Kobilka, Central Lakes College-Brainerd
In this Oceanography activity, students learn about the history of marine noise pollution and its effects on marine life, particularly cetaceans. The activity concludes with a paired debate using the Silent Socratic Dialogue method.

The Dark Side of Mineral Mining
Karen Helgers, Ulster County Community College
Students choose one of four short articles to read about mineral mining, including the impacts of mining on the Native American community in the region. Each article highlights a specific example where the ...

Carbon Footprint Exercise
Cinzia Cervato, Iowa State University
We designed a three-step assignment for students in introductory geoscience that asks them to calculate their carbon footprint during one specific week. The goal of the assignment is to increase student awareness ...

Understanding the Carbon Cycle: A Jigsaw Approach
David Hastings, Eckerd College
In this "jigsaw" exercise, each student is assigned one of five geochemical processes in the carbon cycle to research, fully understand, and then explain to others in groups of five. At the end of class ...

To Drill or Not to Drill? A Case Study in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Cassandra Runyon, College of Charleston; Cynthia Hall, College of Charleston
To Drill or Not to Drill is a multidisciplinary problem based learning exercise, which intends to increase students' knowledge of a variety of topics through a real world environmental topic. In addition, ...

Energy and the Poor - Black Carbon in Developing Nations
Anne Hall, Emory University
In this activity, students will explore impacts of the use of wood, dung and charcoal in developing countries for fuel, producing black carbon. In-class discussion will generate a list of several broad topics, ...

Investigating contaminant transport and environmental justice issues in a local watershed through service learning projects with Sierra Club
Jennifer Houghton, Rhodes College
Students will be applying hydrogeology concepts and methods in the lab and the field and conducting interviews as part of a coherent characterization of water quality issues and potential risks in local low-income, ...