The National Marine Sanctuary Program identifies, designates and manages areas of the marine environment of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic qualities. Access information and pictures of marine sanctuaries all over the U.S. and its territories. Discover ways to get involved with the sanctuary program, ... Full description.

NeMO studies the dynamic interactions between submarine volcanic activity and seafloor hotsprings at an observatory called Axial Seamount. The research activities at NeMO provide an extraordinary educational opportunity, both from the daily reports from expeditions at sea and from creative learning materials based on NeMO results. The site features curriculum materials designed for high school and ... 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.

The rocks and sediment collected by Apollo astronauts contain vital clues to the formation of Earth and the Moon. Most of this information, including crucial parts of the history of Earth, cannot be learned by studying rocks on Earth because it is so geologically active. Teachers may use these materials to teach lunar geology and landforms, rocks and minerals, and the history and future of lunar exploration. ... Full description.

This site has information about where the tectonic plates were located in the Pleistocene and throughout geologic time. You can view animations of the plates moving or download models. Full description.

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 site offers the online version of a book published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It is intended to provide a brief introduction to the concept of plate tectonics, highlighting some of the people and discoveries that advanced the development of the theory. It is the companion volume to the map, 'This Dynamic Planet', which shows the locations of major volcanic belts, fault systems, ... Full description.

In this activity, students build an edible aquifer using ice cream, food coloring, and other ingredients to represent the various layers. They will learn about groundwater, water tables, confining layers, contamination, and recharge. A link to a glossary of groundwater terms is provided. Full description.

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.