Set of six interdisciplinary lesson plans from the Smithsonian, complementing their online "Ocean Planet" exhibit. Topics include: ocean bottom features and seafloor mapping; marine habitats and biodiversity; consumer goods from the ocean; oil spills impacts and solutions; causes of marine strandings; ocean-inspired vocabulary. Units contain: background; instructions for the teacher; maps, data and ... Full description.

This is part of the U.S. Geologic Survey's Water Science for Schools website. It consists of a set of links to other parts of the site dealing with groundwater-related topics such as groundwater flow and distribution, trends in groundwater use, importance of groundwater, and groundwater quality. Graphic illustrations and photographs are provided. Full description.

This site uses Virtual Reality field trips in the Alvin submarine to the East Pacific Rise to explore hydrothermal vents. The education activites focus on 4 activities: Exploration, Observing (actual video from the seafloor), Mapping, and Collecting a Water Sample. Teaching materials for each of the explorations have been provided, each with two levels of assessment (basic and advanced). Full description.

This resource provides information on isostasy and the effects of glaciation on the Earth's lithosphere. The descriptions and scientific illustrations demonstrate how glaciers and the growth of continental ice sheets can put pressure on the Earth's crust, causing local and regional-scale depressions of the lithosphere. As the ice thins or decays, this pressure is released, resulting in an isostatic ... Full description.

This Web site provides an online version of Geomorphology from Space. The book was designed for use by the remote-sensing science and educational communities (undergraduate to graduate level) to study landforms and landscapes. The core of the book is a gallery of space imagery consisting of 237 plates, each treating a geographic region where a particular landform theme is exemplified. Commentary, ... Full description.

This DVD and Website contains NASA satellite image animations of several major wildland fires in the United States that occurred from October 2001 to September 2002, including the Hayman, Rodeo-Chediski, and Biscuit Fires. It also contains a recording of a NASA press conference during July 2003, which includes a panel discussion by several key researchers regarding how NASA data is used to help in ... Full description.

In this unit, students learn about the scientific factors contributing to the global warming debate. Students act as advisors to the heads of state of several nations and explore the issues as they respond to the various questions and concerns of these leaders. Activities include a combination of physical labs and investigations using World Watcher software, a geographic data visualization tool developed ... Full description.

This learning system provides a variety of materials on Earth and space sciences, such as images, movies, animations, and data sets. Students, teachers, and the general public can access information on the sun and space weather, astronomy, our planet and solar system, current space missions, space-related mythology and art, and geology. For teachers, there are links to tools for navigating the site, ... Full description.

Using paper patterns, students are able to construct a model that depicts Karst topography, including typical features such as caves, limestone bedrock, sink holes, and springs. The accompanying Teachers Guide provides extensive background information about the dissolutional processes that form caves. Information is also provided about unique animals found in caves and the importance of understanding ... Full description.

This Oregon State University site offers in-depth information on groundwater including: human impacts, protection, contamination, regulations, agencies, community action, and community stewardship. Although some information, such as how the geology of Oregon affects groundwater, is specific to that state much of the information is transferable to other locations. Full description.