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.

Interpreting the Geologic History of Canyon de Chelly
The is a two part lesson designed to given in-service teacher an experience in field geology. The lesson is designed by Canyon de Chelly, AZ but can be used anywhere there are outcrops of two or more rock types.

Research Experiences in a Mineralogy Class
Dave Mogk, Montana State University Summary One of the goals of my Mineralogy class is to demonstrate how the principles and content covered in class can be applied to questions of geologic interest or that have ...

Semester Lab Research in Marine Geology
Patricia Manley, Middlebury College Summary Students cooperatively conduct original research in Marine Geology utilizing marine practices on Lake Champlain, NY - Vermont. The lab section of the course is used to ...

Relative Age-dating -- Discovery of Important Stratigraphic Principles
Students don't have to be passively taught the important principles geologists use to do relative age-dating of rocks and geologic events. By careful analysis and critical thinking about photos and ...

Lab Activity: Earth's Energy Budget and the Greenhouse Effect
"Earth's Energy Budget and the Greenhouse Effect" is a lab activity in which students use computers and scientific applications software to access, display, describe, analyze, and interpret global, climate-related data sets related to the earth's energy budget and the greenhouse effect.

Reflection on the process of science & geoscience
This is an activity for early in the semester that asks student to reflect on their understanding of the process of science, participate in an activity about the process of science, and then re-reflect on their ...

Undergraduate research students investigate dune processes and change at a Lake Michigan site (Case study from 2007-2008 field season)
Deanna van Dijk, Department of Geology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Calvin College Overview of the Project Undergraduate research students working with Deanna van Dijk, a physical geographer and faculty ...

Peat Bogs of Allegan County: A Field-Based Research Project Involving College and High School Students
By Suzanne DeVries-Zimmerman, Hope College Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences Project Goals The Hope College REACH (Research Experience Across Cultures) program is a 6-week summer research program ...

Drinking Water Quality: An Interdisciplinary Research Experience of Introductory Geology and Chemistry Classes
Robert Shuster, University of Nebraska at Omaha Summary At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, we have involved students in introductory Geology and Chemistry classes in an interdisciplinary study of drinking ...