This article, from Earth: Inside and Out, provides insight into what scientists are learning about Mt. Rainier's volcanic past and future. It provides an overview of the nature of the work of Tom Sisson as a mountaineer and geologist with the Volcano Hazards Program at the United States Geological Survey, and the on-the-job hazards he faces. It explains how Sisson is creating a three-dimensional map ... Full description.

These lecture notes present a discussion of mineralogical classification of granitic rocks, definitions of hypersolvus and subsolvus granites, tectonic and chemical classification, and depth of emplacement of granites. Other topics include pegmatites, continental rhyolites, origin of large volumes of silicic magma, continental flood basalts, continental rift valleys, evolution of rock suites, and ... Full description.

This site has a lesson plan for a class activity on mountain building and graben and horst formation. This particular lesson is number 14, at the top of the page. There are a few other geology lesson plans also listed on this site. Full description.

This Classroom Connectors lesson plan teaches students the causes and effects of various forces upon the Earth. Specifically, students will learn about plate tectonics and the relationship between plates, faults, and earthquakes. This site provides goals, objectives, an outline, time needed, materials, activities, and closure ideas for the lesson. Classroom Connectors address content with an activity ... Full description.

There are currently millions of man-made orbital ruins that make up "space junk". Space junk can be anything from hatches blown off space modules, paint fragments from the space shuttle, or satellites that no longer work. On this website you will help to capture junk that's floating out there in space. Each time you capture junk, you also find a short description of the junk, how it arrived in space ... Full description.

Does any planet have a stronger magnetic field than Mars? Which planets have a greater mass than Jupiter? Which are denser? Which are larger? Users can find out while playing the Solar System Edition of Order It Up! Order it Up measures of size and scale help us understand the magnitude of objects. Once you get the planetary bodies in order, you can unscramble a space photograph. Full description.

Space Sense is a game developed as part of the Windows to the Universe project. Players learn about the planets, galaxies and the universe by answering questions. Every question they answer correctly will boost their rocket toward its destination-leaving the Earth's atmosphere. Each question contains a 'Life Line' button for helpful clues and an 'Open a Link' button that will take users to web page ... Full description.

This set of lecture notes discusses the occurrence and tectonic settings of igneous rocks near convergent plate margins. A discussion of petrography includes major element composition, calc-alkaline trends in ternary diagrams, trace element variations, isotopes to distinguish magma sources, and the origin of igneous rocks at convergent margins. The lecture notes include helpful illustrations, maps ... Full description.

This report contains true stories that illustrate how to survive (and how not to survive) a tsunami. It is meant for people who live, work, or play along coasts that tsunamis may strike. The stories are personal accounts selected from interviews with people who survived a Pacific Ocean tsunami generated by the magnitude 9.5 earthquake that occurred along the coast of Chile on May 22, 1960. Important ... Full description.

With three levels to choose from on each page - beginner, intermediate or advanced - this site provides a good introduction to the structure of the ocean. Included are excellent graphics and text about patterns of ocean salinity and temperature with depth, as well as surface currents, deep ocean circulation and even the water cycle. Extensive in-text links provide the means for users to explore the ... Full description.