This interactive lesson on igneous rocks begins with a comparison of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks with diagrams to show their origin. This leads to a discussion of intrusive rock formations including dikes, sills, laccoliths and batholiths and a block diagram to show their location. Basaltic rocks are described to include basalt, pumice, and gabbro and are contrasted with granitic rhyolite ... Full description.

This article profiles the work of Elise Knittle, whose research specialty is mineral physics. The essay gives an overview of the core, mantle, and crust of the Earth, including what we know about their physical properties. It explains the work of the author, studying the chemical interactions between the metals that make up the Earth's core and the silicate minerals that compose the mantle. The obstacles ... Full description.

This activity will allow students to investigate the resistance to weathering of headstones in a cemetery. This field study offers scope for developing many of the investigative skills involved in planning, obtaining and presenting evidence, considering evidence and in evaluating it. Students will have to consider key factors that need to be taken into account when collecting evidence, and how evidence ... Full description.

In this activity, students heat limestone (mainly calcium carbonate) to form lime (calcium oxide) and note the differences between the reactions of limestone and lime with water, acids and carbon dioxide. Adding water to the lime produces slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) in an exothermic reaction. Some of the calcium hydroxide dissolves in the water, producing an alkaline solution called limewater. ... Full description.

In this activity students will design an apparatus and carry out tests of fossil fuels to determine their impact on acid deposition by placing a small amount of a fossil fuel on a cotton puff and burning it to measure if acidic compounds are given off. Students will provide a diagram of their collection device and describe how it should function. Students will then draw a map showing the location ... Full description.

This webpage of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS) describes the geology and features of caves. It discusses cave formation, features, minerals found in caves, uses of caves, and various investigations of caves. There is an educational activity on karst topography formation, and links for additional information. Full description.

In this activity, students will differentiate between requirements for life in extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents and other environments and will use soft candy as a model to create a visual image of chemicals involved in autotrophic nutrition. As they review the biochemistry of hydrothermal vents, they will discover what chemicals are used by autotrophs in extreme environments in the ... Full description.

In this activity, students assume the role of a geologist prospecting for copper deposits. From the background material, they will learn what ore deposits are and some important factors in their origin; and learn about a type of ore deposit known as a porphyry copper deposit. They will plot data from a table onto maps and use a geologic map, a soil geochemistry map, and a sediment geochemistry map ... Full description.

In March, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules for mercury that power plants release into the air when they burn coal to make electricity. The plan, called the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), is designed to limit the tonnage of mercury that is released per year. This lesson on mercury contamination begins with a video about CAIR, and has students read a short article about ... Full description.

This resource is part of the Science Education Gateway (SEGway) project, funded by NASA, which is a national consortium of scientists, museums, and educators working together to bring the latest science to students, teachers, and the general public. This lesson uses NASA images of Antarctic ozone (from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer, or TOMS) to motivate a how-to graphing lesson followed by ... Full description.