Geoworld Plate Tectonics Lab part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
Students analyze the geology and geophysics of a simple fabricated flat planet to analyze its tectonics, deepening their understanding of plate tectonics concepts and discovering for themselves some of the more counter-intuitive aspects of the theory of plate tectonics.

Seasons and Why the Equator is Warmer than the Poles part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
One of the most common and persistent scientific misconceptions is that Earth's seasons are caused by Earth's distance from the sun. A closely related and perhaps more common misconception is that the ...

Phases and Eclipses of the Moon part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
Students use a light source, a polystyrene ball, and their bodies to model and explain the causes of eclipses and the phases of the moon, and then to determine the direction of the moon's revolution and the period of its rotation.

Finding the Missing Half T-Rex (a study of faults) part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
In this structural geology activity, students are faced with a problem whose solution requires an understanding of faults. Using inductive reasoning and a set of wood blocks, students discover a general rule about faults and then apply that rule to the specific problem.

Density, Buoyancy and Convection part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
In this three-hour guided-discovery lab, students observe the process of convection in a glitter lamp (similar to a lava lamp) and then discover how and why convection occurs through a series of hands-on ...

Advanced Moon Project part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems:Examples
The moon project is a semester-long research project about the moon; each student explores one of four assigned topics. Over 1-2 months, students make daily naked-eye observations of the moon and construct graphs ...

Guided Discovery Problems part of Library:Guided Discovery Problems
Developed by Ann Bykerk-Kauffman . Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, California State University, Chico What are Guided Discovery Problems? Deep down inside, why are you a scientist? I'll ...

Using Satellite Data and Google Earth to Explore the Shape of Ocean Basins and Bathymetry of the Sea Floor part of Library:Teaching with Data:Examples
This activity is for an introductory oceanography course. It is designed to allow students to use various tools (satellite images, Google Earth) to explore the shape of the sea floor and ocean basins in order to gain a better understanding of both the processes that form ocean basins, as well as how the shape of ocean basins influences physical and biological processes.

Seismicity and Relative Risk part of Library:Teaching with Data:Examples
This activity introduces students to using real-time data about earthquakes to make decisions.

Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning part of Library:Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning
Developed by Rick Moog, James Spencer, Frank Creegan, Troy Wolfskill, David Hanson, Andrei Stroumanis, Diane Bunce, and Jennifer Lewis (among many others). For a complete list of POGIL project personnel and a ...