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Earth Structures
$4.95 - Member Price  
$5.95 - Nonmember Price

Details

Type of Product:SciGuide
Average Rating:
 based on 12 reviews
Publication Date:4/1/2005
Grade Level:High School


Description

SciGuides are a collection of thematically aligned lesson plans, simulations, and web-based resources for teachers to use with their students centered on standards-aligned science concepts.

This web guide explores several natural phenomena that are constantly changing the face of the Earth. These geologic forces not only impact the physical features of our planet but ultimately affect the biosphere in a dramatic way. Historically, the changes have ranged from gradual (such as with the process of mountain building) to the spontaneous (such as with seismic events).


Ideas For Use

A Science Guide is a valuable classroom resource for science teachers interested in integrating the web into their teaching. Each guide consists of approximately 100 web-accessible resources (URLs) that have been aligned to the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and vetted across eight educational rubrics, such as Inquiry, Interactivity, Communication/ Collaboration, How Scientists Learn, etc. These URL resources have been assembled in a thematic drill-down structure with linked lesson plans, vignettes, samples of student work and MP3 files that demonstrate how the Guide’s URLs can be utilized in a classroom. Ultimately, a Science Guide is a resource that saves educators time by providing exemplary web resources that have been pre-evaluated and aligned to the National Science Education Standards.

Additional Info

Science Discipline: (mouse over for full classification)
Earthquakes
Mountain building
Plate tectonics
Volcanoes
Lithosphere
Scientists and inventors
Science process skills
Intended User Role:High-School Educator, Learner, New Teacher, Professional Development Provider, Teacher
Educational Issues:Achievement, Assessment of students, Careers, Classroom management, Curriculum, Inquiry learning, Instructional materials, Integrating technology, Professional development, Teacher content knowledge, Teacher preparation, Teaching strategies

Technical

Resource Format:audio/mp3, text/html


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National Standards Correlation

This resource has 7 correlations with the National Standards.  
[VIEW CORRELATIONS]

This resource has 7 correlations with the National Standards.  
[HIDE CORRELATIONS]

  • Earth Science
    • Structure of the earth system
      • Lithospheric plates on the scales of continents and oceans constantly move at rates of centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle. (5-8)
      • Major geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building, result from the motions of lithospheric plates. (5-8)
      • Land forms are the result of a combination of constructive and destructive forces. (5-8)
  • Process Standards for Professional Development
    • Design
      • Introduce teachers to scientific literature, media, and technological resources that expand their science knowledge and their ability to access further knowledge. (NSES)
  • Teaching Standards
    • Teachers provide students with the time, space, and resources needed to learn science.
      • Make the available science tools, materials, media, and technological resources accessible to students.
  • Science as Inquiry
    • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
      • NA
    • Understandings about scientific inquiry
      • NA


Customer Reviews
Good collection but needs updating
  Reviewed by: Lauren Lee on May 9, 2013
  I like the wealth of resources available in this SciGuide. Although the content is geared for high schoolers, I found many sites and activities that can easily be adapted for elementary students. The plate tectonics theme has a good variety of resources for both teachers and students. However, there were a couple of links to sites that no longer existed. I also wish that the volcanoes theme included more about Hawaii. Because I live in Hawaii, I like to tie in our geography and formation of the islands into science. While many sites were dedicated to the volcanoes located in the "ring of fire," including more about the volcanoes in Hawaii would make a great addition to this SciGuide.

Enjoyable, but not really place-based
  Reviewed by: Whitney A on December 28, 2012
  This SciGuide was informative about the different Earth structures, including earthquakes, plate tectonics, and volcanoes. The lesson plans that it provided were all very rooted in technology and computer-based activities. This makes it very helpful for teachers/students who do not necessarily have access to the Earth structures on a daily basis. As a teacher with many examples of geology in my backyard, it makes more sense to go outside with my students rather than view it all online. Either way, both means of delivery give a good overview to students across the world.

Resources Abound!
  Reviewed by: Denise on November 6, 2012
  Although the content is aimed at the high school level, there is still a lot of information that can be used at the elementary level. The SciGuide map helps you navigate easily through the various resources. There are 3 main themes: earthquakes, plate tectonics, and volcanoes. Under each theme, there are subcategories. Each subcategory features both teacher websites and student websites. A computer center could easily be setup so that students can explore these sites on their own. The visuals are extremely helpful. For example, one link led me to Exploratorium, where there were photographs and graphics used to teach seismic science. I especially thought the Oreo cookie model used to explain subduction was cute and yummy, a perfect activity for 4th graders! Another link led me to the National Science Foundation website which had a report on what happens after a tsunami. It provided feedback from scientists on location. Another site from NSTA had students plotting earthquakes using longitude and latitude data. This would make a great extension activity for those students who are looking for ways to show “exceeding” performance.

This Guide is Perfect for Middle School
  Reviewed by: Tabitha Booth on November 5, 2012
  I was surprised to see this guide with average ratings when NSTA's Plate Tectonics SciPack was awesome. However, I think the problem is this guide is currently considered a high school guide and yet it really is more appropriate for those teaching Earth Science at the middle school level. One thing I really like about this guide, is section on Seismic Waves; in Hawaii, we have a benchmark, "SC.8.6.2 – Explain how seismic waves provide scientists with information about the structure of Earth’s interior," but our textbook does a very poor job of doing so. This guides teaches about Earth Structures and Plate Tectonics in the order that it should be taught - It is a perfect unit for a beginning Earth science teacher and helpful resource to veteran teachers esp. for those looking for online sources or graphics. That said, some sites/links no longer exist and others could be added. For more updated websites checkout NSTA's Earth and Space Science Community Forums:)

Earth Structures review
  Reviewed by: Ryan T on October 15, 2012
  The Earth Structures SciGuide was a great way for me to gather more information about how the Earth creates changes within itself. One of the most important science benchmarks for fourth graders is understanding how fast processes change the shape of the Earth. The Earth Structures SciGuide helps by focusing on the two fast processes that I focus on, earthquakes and volcanoes. The SciGuide also provides information about platetectonics and how the movement of the plates relates to earthquakes and volcanoes. Hawaii is a very unique place because we have an active volcano over a hot spot and the SciGuide provides ways for me to help explain our situation here in the Pacific. The SciGuide is geared towards high school students but I am able to adjust the lessons and the interactive websites to help my fourth graders understand more about these Earth Structures and how they change the face of the Earth.

Resources galore
  Reviewed by: Dan Carroll (Arlington, VA) on February 9, 2012
  This i a great ollection of resources. Includes the iris seite as well as many others. Also has included lesson plans with recommended tie-ins an number of days for full lesson planning. Very easy to adjust for multiple abilities nd ages.

Volcanoes R Fun
  Reviewed by: angelo laskowsky on February 1, 2012
  I read through the SciGuide on Earth Structures, and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. Review: The SciGuide is organized into Themes: Earthquakes, Plate Tectonics, and Volcanoes. Each of these sections has online learning activities, research/investigations, and group presentations However, they are scaled for 9th-12th grade, and will probably need some work to scale down for a middle school classroom, such as my own. This is especially true for the Earthquakes theme. A few of the Earthquakes links don't work, however, whcih is slightly annoying. The general idea of having the students research earthquake locations, intensity, and readiness and then have the students recommend changes to a community's building code is something I plan on having my students do. But, it would be nice to have that model to follow on this website. The Volcanoes theme, however, is very translatable to a middle school classroom with only the usual revisions to accomodate different learner and teachign styles. I fully intend to incorporate the lesosn in which students research volcanoes and then demonstrate their knowledge in a presentation to the class. I'd modify it by making it a group project, rather than an individual project since middle schoolers learn better in groups. Overall, pretty decent with only minor complications because of the nature of the internet.

Reviewing "Earth Structures"
  Reviewed by: Veronica Winegarner on November 25, 2011
  The “Earth Structures: High School” contains information on three major areas related to Earth Science: Earthquakes, Plate Tectonics, and Volcanoes. The sections deal with how these forces change the planet both gradually and suddenly; as a result, all of them affect not only the shape and formation of the planet, but also the life of the biosphere on the planet. This SciGuide is most useful to teachers of high school students, but teachers of K-8 will find information to answer their own questions and the more advanced questions of their younger students. A number of the links are no longer working, but those that still do have good information for teachers and some activities for students. The links go to activities, lesson plans, interactive presentations, information and quizzes, and other materials. The section on Volcanoes is particularly useful, especially in supplying information that was only touched on in the SciPacks, like the theory and formation of “hot spots.” All of the information helps teachers prepare students for a larger view of the planet as a globe of constant changes where earthquakes and volcanoes are not rare events but are the regular and predictable result of plate tectonics.

Earth Structures
  Reviewed by: Shahinaz Nassar (Wailuku, HI) on November 11, 2011
  Although this SciGuide was designed for grades 9-12, I found it to be very informative. It was a great resource to enhance my knowledge on the three themes: Earthquakes, Plate Tectonics, and Volcanoes. It had great images of earthquakes and their impact. It also included great student samples and a rubric on a research report on volcanoes that was adapted for 5th grade. Some of activities could easily be adapted to elementary students. I believe this SciGuide is a great resource that includes valuable information and samples that could be used to enhance the learning experience in any classroom.

What about Hawaii?
  Reviewed by: Floyd (Honolulu, HI) on September 14, 2011
  Lots of great resources, but being Hawaiian, I take umbrage with Hawaii having such a miniscule treatment in the section on volcanoes. Most of mentions are a couple of clicks deep. Being on the island of Hawaii, I intend to have my students examine real world data from one of the best studied volcanoes on the planet right in our back yard. My main idea is to use mathematics to project amounts of lava and pollution put out over time, and to look at present impact on the state and projected into the future. My students will look for data on economics, health, air and water quality and try to find links with local volcanic activity.

Limited to tectonic structures
  Reviewed by: Jennifer Rahn (Delafield, WI) on May 18, 2011
  I appreciate the volcano and earthquake content found in this SciGuide, but it lacks any reference to other types of processes that affect Earth structures. There are many other types of structures not formed by tectonic processes, but none are covered. Perhaps it would be better to reflect this in the title.

Mainly covers volcanoes
  Reviewed by: Kendra Young (Lake Stevens, WA) on November 22, 2010
  Very little information on plate tectonics. Would like to see more information on historical geology - especially rock outcrops and regional metamorphism - which allow students to interpret landforms and large scale events.

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