This National Park Service (NPS) site provides links to shoreline geology fieldnotes for National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas. When appropriate, fieldnotes include visitor information, geology, maps, photographs, multimedia resources, geologic research, and teacher features (lessons for teaching geology with National Park examples). Some of the parks included on this site: Acadia National ... Full description.

This activity uses the concept of natural selection to introduce the idea of formulating and testing scientific hypotheses. Through a focused discussion approach, the teacher provides information and allows students time to think, interact with peers, and propose explanations for observations described by the teacher. While working on this activity, students will be able to: identify questions that ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on Earth's past beginning about 4.6 billion years ago and takes students through the development of our planet from its formation, to first signs of life, to primitive organisms, to modern day humans. By creating a timeline students realize how recent an addition humans are to this planet. It includes ... Full description.

While commonly referred to as 'shooting stars', meteors and meteor showers are, in fact, unrelated to stars. Instead, these streaks of light are the glow of interplanetary debris crashing into Earth's atmosphere. This animated video introduces students to shooting stars and the reasons behind annual meteor showers. Topics include the difference between sporadic meteors and meteor showers, how comets ... Full description.

This resource provides general information about volcanoes. It illustrates the growth of a volcano, using Paricutin and Mt. St. Helens as examples of an active volcano and a lava dome. The terms extinct and dormant are also discussed. This site provides an explanation of why and how volcanoes form, zones of subduction, mid-ocean ridges, and hot spots. Deadly dangers associated with eruptions are discussed ... Full description.

This site provides links to tours of National Parks, National Monuments, and Recreation Areas associated with major mountain building periods. The parks are divided into groups by mountain building events: Appalachian, Laramide, and others. Where appropriate, links are provided to park geology, maps, photographs, geologic research, related links, visitor information, multi-media, and teacher features ... Full description.

Earth's surface is covered with natural features formed by weathering, erosion, and deposition. Although these forces are typically associated with destruction, they have also created many of the world's natural wonders. This interactive slide show presents images of natural features (glacial valleys, petrified forests, hot springs, and others) produced by these powerful forces. A background essay ... Full description.

This introduction to the theory of plate tectonics describes the plates as being in constant motion, causing earthquakes, mountain building, volcanism, the production of new crust and the destruction of old. It includes information about plate boundaries: convergent, divergent, and transform, and shows how the continents have moved and are still moving today. It includes goals, objectives, and a list ... Full description.

In this article, The Why Files examines amber as nature's preservative. This fossilized resin has provided scientists with important clues and evidence for ancient life on Earth. The article investigates what amber is, how it preserves, where it is found, and the discoveries about ancient DNA that have been made by using amber fossils. Full description.

This activity illustrates how dark land surfaces, light land surfaces and water all heat at different rates. Students determine whether land or water absorbs heat more quickly and how this difference affects weather and climate. Full description.