What is Magnitude? Earthquake Magnitude By Analogy part of Geophysics:Workshop 07:Geophysics Activities
Scott White, University of South Carolina-Columbia
Understanding magnitude scales by analogy to distance. Students use distance as a proxy for understanding how the logarithmic earthquake magnitude scale works. Very simple class or lab exercise for introductory ...

Investigating the Rock Cycle Through Writing and Illustrating part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Leah Campbell, Central Intermediate School, Stewartville, MN, based on an original activity developed by Alissa Naymark, Rochester Public Schools
This activity is a quantative writing activity where students will use writing and illustrations to show their knowledge of the basic rock cycle.

The Anatomy of a Rate Law part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Quantitative Writing:Examples
Barry Bickmore, Brigham Young University
This assignment teaches geochemistry students to explain the mathematical forms of rate laws, and organize paragraphs in their writing assignments properly.

Exploring Effects of Oil Spills on Birds part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
April Rosendale, Hilltop Elementary, Henderson, MN
This activity allows children to explore the effects of oil spills on birds.

Evaporation: Investigating factors that affect it part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Dennis Martin, Christian Life School, Farmington, MN
This activity is an investigation regarding evaporation and the factors that affect it.

Mary Anning: An artistic look at the "Princess of Paleontology" part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Jennifer Hubert, Jenny Lind Elementary School, Minneapolis, MN, Based on Lecture notes from Professor Larry Davis MnSTEP, Web site information from http://historicalbiographies.suite101.com/article.cfm/mary_anning_1799_1847, and Book Laurence Anholt, Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning, ISBN 1-84507-700-8, Frances Lincoln Publishers 2006
This lesson is a classroom activity where students learn about paleontologist Mary Anning, briefly learn about sedimentary rock, and complete observation drawings of Platteville Limestone fossils.

Explaining Seismic Hazard Probabilities part of Teaching Resources:Quantitative Writing:Examples
Mary Savina, Carleton College
This activity asks students to explain earthquake hazard probabilities to a lay audience of citizens, government officials and others.

The Science of Puddles part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Debra Hornfeldt, Como Park Elementary, St Paul MN Based on original activities from The Wonders of Wetlands pages 152-156 and Aquatic Project Wild pages 21-26.
This activity is a field investigation of puddles where students gather data and record their findings.

Investigating Clouds: How do clouds form? What are the different types of clouds? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Kris Hagemeyer
This plan involves observing and labeling clouds and conducting an experiment on how clouds form.

Investigating the Water Cycle: Using Plants to Study Evaporation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Suzanne Bot, Kimberly Lane Elementary School, Plymouth, MN based on an original activity from Project Wet, p. 116 and 161.
In this science activity, students investigate the water cycle by testing the water evaporated from leaves (transpiration) in a field experience. Students use elements of this information to track the water cycle through it's various stages.