Students participating in this lab activity will construct a simulated aquifer in the classroom. The aquifer is constructed from readily available materials, and instructions, data sheets, vocabulary, and diagrams are provided. This simple model is intended for student inquiry into groundwater systems. Students are instructed to try things (within the context of the model), observe what happens, and ... Full description.

This lab activity investigates porosity, permeability and relationship. Students will understand porosity and how gases/liquids can move through permeable materials (permeability). Also, students will repeat a valuable scientific experiment performed on the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific expedition by expedition members and Dr. Mary Albert (of the USA Cold Regions Research and Engineering ... Full description.

This is an inquiry activity that, while based on a local area (the San Francisco Bay), could be adapted to the teacher's/student's local area. Students perform an experiment in which they observe how water pollution is absorbed into plants. The site contains a teacher's guide and printable student worksheet. Full description.

Become an amateur meteorologist by building your own weather station and keeping a record of your measurements. Older students can independently follow instructions on how to build five different instruments (barometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, weather vane, and compass). Younger students will need adult supervision with hammer and nails. Full description.

Getting Dirty on Mars is a fun and interactive way to introduce students to the basics of soil science. Based on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, students will simulate what it is like to collect soil samples just like the Phoenix. By measuring for themselves many of the properties scientists use to characterize soil samples, students will be better prepared to interpret those properties as used in actual ... Full description.

This site provides an overview of the Earth's atmospheric greenhouse effect by briefly exploring the atmospheres of nearby planets and discussing the greenhouse gases of our atmosphere, such as, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide. Students will learn that the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse is influenced by a number of factors, including the transparency of the greenhouse ... Full description.

This is a basic lesson on clouds. Very nice photos of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds are presented on the page as well as a description of all major cloud types and their associated weather. Two activities are presented. One invites the learner to create a cloud, while the other involves creating a collage of cloud images along with information about the weather associated with each cloud type. Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to build an instrument that can be used to measure water temperature. Students construct a soda-bottle thermometer, which is similar to the thermometer used by GLOBE schools. Both are based on the principle that most substances expand and contract as their temperature changes. This experiment also demonstrates the principle of heat transfer. The intended outcome is ... Full description.

'The purpose of the resource is to meaure the alkalinity of a water sample. Students will use an alkalinity kit to measure the alkalinity in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the alkalinity kit used. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure the nitrate-nitrogen of water. Students will use a nitrate kit to measure the nitrate-nitrogen in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the nitrate kit used. Full description.