Earth Science Lesson Abstracts

The Relationship Between
Earthquakes and Plate Boundaries
Problem/Purpose:
Analyze the relationship between plate boundaries and the occurrence of earthquakes.
Classtime: 60 minutes
Grade Level: 4-9

Earthquake Epicenters and Magnitudes
Problem/Purpose:
At an on-line interactive earthquake simulation web site, students will use tools and methods that scientists use to determine important information about an earthquake.
Classtime: 120 minutes
Grade Level: 4-12

Weathering and Erosion: Some Ways
the Hydrosphere Affects the Geosphere
Problem/Purpose:
Students will observe water erosion, investigate several Internet web sites to find answers to questions about erosion, and build a two-part model showing the before and after effects of erosion or erosion prevention.
Classtime: 4 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 4-6

Electronic Hydrology (Revised)
Problem/Purpose:
To find if time of peak flows for lower reaches of the Yellowstone are predictable.
Classtime: 120 minutes
Grade Level: 8-12

Physical Habitat of a Stream
Problem/Purpose:
Identify the physical parameters of a specific reach of a stream. Coordinate data collection and analysis with groups of students. Read information from a topographic map.
Classtime: 2-3 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 7-12

The Effect of Moisture on Soil Temperature
Problem/Purpose:
Analyze the effect of soil moisture on soil temperature.
Classtime: 60 minutes
Grade Level: K-12

Demonstrating Erosion in Action
Problem/Purpose:
To develop a hands-on appreciation for the factors that contribute to erosion.
Classtime: 60 minutes
Grade Level: 3-12

An Investigation into
Effects of Rhizobium Soil Bacteria
on Nitrogen Availability
Problem/Purpose:
What is the effect of a nitrifying bacterium such as Rhizobium on plant growth?
Classtime: 9-10 weeks
Grade Level: 7-12

Discovering Albedo
Problem/Purpose:
Analyze the relationship between soil covering and its effect on soil temperature.
Classtime: 60-minutes
Grade Level: 4-6

Generate an Accurate Landscape Profile
from a Topographic Map
Problem/Purpose:
This activity enables the student to transpose contour lines from a topographic map, generating a topographic profile. A topographic profile is an accurate representation of the shape of the countryside. This gives a visual cross-section of the terrain.
Classtime: 1 50-minute class period
Grade Level: 6-12

Soil Heat Capacity
Problem/Purpose:
To experimentally determine the specific heat of topsoil and sand.
Classtime: 2 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 8-12

Predicting Monthly Precipitation
Problem/Purpose:
Sometimes the data we get from weather stations is incomplete and must be manipulated in order to fill in the missing pieces. After the missing pieces have been filled in, it is possible to compare the averages of precipitation data from specific months of previous years. Then it is possible to predict the amount of precipitation in the current year for these months. How much precipitation will there be in April (or any other month desired) this year based on averaged precipitation for the same month in previous years?
Classtime: 2 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 8-12

Name That Wind!
Problem/Purpose:
The purpose of this investigation is to learn about wind. Through these activities students will develop a vocabulary to describe different types of wind, measure the force of wind, record daily observations of wind velocity, and prepare visual aids to present their findings.
Classtime: 5 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 3-10

Life in Streams and Ponds
Problem/Purpose:
Students will gather, culture, and Gram stain microorganisms from an aquatic environment- then create a data table detailing and organizing their information.
Classtime: 4 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 9-12

The Water Cycle
Problem/Purpose:
Students are introduced to the basic concepts of the water cycle by viewing an online animation. After viewing the animation, students will create their own "animated" water cycle wheel that illustrates where water comes from and where it goes.
Classtime: 2 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 1-6

Worms in a Bottle
Problem/Purpose:
Give students a better understanding of the worm and its role in the recycling of organic materials into simpler forms.
Classtime: 3 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: K-12

Geologic Time: Relative and Absolute Dating
Problem/Purpose:
In this geological exploration, students investigate relative and absolute dating; determine the difference between the two dating systems (including methodologies used to acquire dates); and apply this knowledge by creating a geologic timetable of their own.
Classtime: 5 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 9-12

Hurricanes and Tornadoes
Problem/Purpose:
What are the differences between tornadoes and hurricanes, and how are each of them classified?
Classtime: 3 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 5-12

Analyzing the Relationship between Snowpack and River Flow
Problem/Purpose:
Study the relationship between mountain snowpack and river flow.
Classtime: 3-5 days
Grade Level: 6-12

Measuring Stream Flow
Problem/Purpose:
Show students how to measure stream flow.
Classtime: 1 50-minute class period
Grade Level: 4-10 (can be adjusted for lower grades)

Analyzing Weather Maps
Problem/Purpose:
Analyze weather maps to discover relationships.
Classtime: 8 30-minute class periods and 1 50-minute class period
Grade Level: 7-12

Earthquake Depth
Problem/Purpose:
Does the depth of an earthquake have any relationship to the distance from a plate boundary?
Classtime: 3-5 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 9-12

Do Human Practices Affect Water Quality?
Problem/Purpose:
The purpose of this investigation is to determine if human practices (such as use of fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, town runoff, sewage disposal, waste treatment etc.) have any noticeable effects on the quality of stream life as measured by the presence of certain macroinvertebretes.
Classtime: 10 50-minute class periods
Grade Level: 6-12

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