The purpose of this resource is to understand that soil, under different environmental conditions, plays a role in the decomposition of organic materials. Students use bottle experiments to observe changes in the decomposition of vegetable scraps. Students vary temperature, moisture, and light conditions to determine the conditions that best facilitate the decomposition of organic material in soil. ... Full description.

The purpose of the ESS activities associated with the GLOBE 1987 Global Patterns Poster is to help students understand the broader global context for local GLOBE measurements. Students discover patterns in global maps of environmental data, interpret those patterns, and draw conclusions and make predictions based on them; communicate those interpretations and predictions; and develop an understanding ... Full description.

In this lesson, learners investigate endothermy and ectothermy. Four sets of images measuring infrared radiation are provided and, using a Web-based, customized version of ImageJ, students compare body temperatures of a snake and rat before and after exposure under a heat lamp. Full description.

In this lesson, learners measure the lengths of various insect body parts from scanning electron micrographs using WebImage, a Web-based customized version of ImageJ. The lesson introduces students to setting scale in making the measurements and to units of measurement, as well as entomology. Full description.

In this activity, students will construct a set of sieves (four sizes) and use them to sort a soil sample. The activity will demonstrate that accuracy does not always have to involve expensive, high technology equipment. The sieves can be kept for use in later activities. A materials list and illustrated instructions are provided. Materials used to construct the sieves must be purchased. Full description.

This site describes the three forms of volcanoes, which are cinder cones, the shield type and the composite or stratovolcano. The six major types of eruptions (Icelandic, Hawaiian, Strombolian Vulcanian, Pelean, and Plinian) are discussed. The site has diagrams and photographs to illustrate both the forms of the volcanoes and the types of eruptions and the relationship between them. The site also ... Full description.

In this activity students will become familiar with oceanography terms by writing an oceanography horror story. Terms include sea floor features, marine organisms, oceanographic sampling, and creative writing. Students can use their imaginations to good advantage in this activity, but they must get the facts right! For example, they can change one characteristic of an organism, such as increasing ... Full description.

This activity suggests that art is a fun way to encourage children to see the world around them and increase their visual awareness. Students observe natural objects like shells, rocks, minerals, and plants and notice that they have subtle and striking detail, regularity of pattern, texture, and shape. By exploring natural design, students will be encouraged to observe the natural world more closely ... Full description.

In the three-dimensional ocean, some creatures live on the sea floor, but many live and move about in the water column. Having a body form that is hard to see or detect helps many ocean dwellers avoid being eaten by hungry predators. However, many predators have evolved some of the same adaptations which help them approach their prey without being seen. During this activity students will learn that ... Full description.

In this two-part activity students examine the teeth of living mammals to try to determine the animal's feeding habits and then apply skills learned to the interpretation of the diet of extinct animals. During this activity students will recognize that teeth display a variety of shapes, and that tooth shapes are correlated with specific ways of obtaining and processing food. They will be able to recognize ... Full description.