This activity introduces students to the idea that crystals 'grow' (crystallize or precipitate) and that minerals or rocks also form this way, providing a very general idea of the nature of magma (molten material that eventually crystallizes into igneous rocks). Using solutions mixed by the teacher, they will observe and sketch the formation of crystals of potassium dichromate and copper II acetate ... Full description.

This Web research project takes students from the surface of the ocean to its deepest regions, asking them to work as scientists. They will make predictions and observations, all the while recording their findings. Students begin by looking at how water temperatures vary across the globe and throughout the year. Then they investigate how global ocean circulation regulates ocean temperatures. They ... Full description.

In this activity students will discover some of the details of filming life in the oceans as they plan a decompression dive. They will learn about the physics and physiology of scuba diving, study the principles applied in the United States Navy Decompression tables, and work decompression problems typical of those worked by military and professional divers prior to executing dives. Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about Mercury including detailed information about this planet, space science, planetary geology, Mercury's atmosphere, Mercury's formation, the magnetosphere, and myths. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop ... Full description.

In this activity students explore the difference between brittle and ductile deformation in everyday materials and how material behavior is influenced by temperature and the rate of deformation. They then apply the same concepts to rocks and to the occurrence of earthquakes and mountain ranges at plate boundaries. Students will understand that rocks are forced to change shape at tectonic plate boundaries, ... Full description.

This slide show explains auroras in detail, and includes discussions about solar flares and the solar wind. It describes the Earth's magnetosphere and its interaction with the charged particles that cause the auroras. It contains detailed diagrams and photographs to help illustrate the lesson. Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about the solar system including detailed information about formation, planets, asteroids, comets, and the Sun. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth ... Full description.

This activity involves previously collected soils from each horizon of a soil profile. The bags from one soil profile are given to a group and the students put the bags in the proper order. This involves student groups looking at each other's sample bags as well as their own and sharing information. After some discussion, during which the instructor makes certain that the students have gotten the ... Full description.

This activity has students record the temperatures in and around a walk-in refrigerator or freezer to see how cold air behaves when it meets warmer air. The printable five-page handout includes a series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about how the temperature of air changes its density, detailed experiment directions, and a worksheet that helps students use experimental results ... Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about galaxies including detailed information about the Milky Way galaxy, ellipticals, spirals, and irregulars. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth ... Full description.