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Book Chapter |
Plate tectonics is the primary theory that drives explanation in geology, but the idea that land masses drift around the Earth can sound as crazy to students as it did to geologists in the early 1900s. Spending time on…
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The Ocean on Top of a Mountain
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In this chapter, students will simulate the “life” of a mountain and then think about what traces of each stage of the mountain’s life are present at the end of the simulation. Then they will read about the Burgess…
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Many students have never looked carefully at rocks. For this reason, looking closely at several different types of rocks is important for preparing them to learn about how rocks are classified. In this chapter, one goal…
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In this lesson, it is assumed that students have had some encounter with the water cycle previously, but may not understand the important role of groundwater in the cycle. Karst terrain provides a hook for studying…
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Many middle school students still struggle with the concept of density, without which it is difficult to understand overturning circulation. This chapter begins with physical models of temperature and saline density…
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Hot air rises and cold air sinks so winds move between the equator and the polar regions. The work of the wind on the water is predictable. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a testament to both the movement of Earth’s…
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The Sun is the ultimate power source for many of the processes on Earth, and water serves as a battery, storing and releasing the Sun’s power. These ideas are important for students to understand, because they form the…
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It’s hard to conceive of the sheer size and the vast amount of empty space in our solar system, much less a galaxy or the universe. It is much easier for the planets to be reduced to a list of their properties. In this…
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Sometimes students find the causes of seasons to be a difficult concept. They often need to work with visual representations to understand the implications of axial tilt. One misconception is that seasons change as the…
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In this chapter, students are asked to consider public policy decisions as they relate to energy usage. For this activity, students will serve as consumer advocates to evaluate and rate hair dryers. In the process, they…
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The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the structure of the solid Earth. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize that Earth’s outer layer (crust) is mostly solid rock…
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The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about soil. Soil is the material that is useful to plants and animals, including people. Its formation is a slow process but continuous and still…
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The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the surface of Earth. It is designed to find out if students recognize that most of Earth’s surface is covered by water and helps students learn…
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Where is Most of the Fresh Water?
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The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the distribution of fresh water. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize that most of Earth’s fresh water is found in frozen form…
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The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about a major freshwater resource, groundwater. The probe is designed to find out how students visualize groundwater, which can be challenging as it is…
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