How Dangerous Are Tsunamis? Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Geological Society of America. Imagine playing beside the ocean, when suddenly, the water drops. Where the water used to be, there are wriggling fish and ribbons of seaweed. What do you do? You could be seeing the first sign of a tsunami ─ a long wave formed in the ocean when the sea floor moves suddenly. Most tsunamis happen because of large earthquakes on the ocean floor. [Read More]

Humans and Water, Past to Present Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Archaeological Institute of America. Humans use lots of water. We need it for various activities, including agriculture, transport, washing, and recreation. Most important, we need to drink fresh water to stay alive. Today, in many regions around the world, fresh water comes straight to where we need it. But in some places, people must carry gallons of water from the closest stream, river, lake, or well to their homes. [Read More]

Identifying Your Watershed Activity Source: Water Use In Vermont - An Activities Guide For Teachers (United States Geological Survey) Goal To identify the (1) watershed you live in, (2) source of water used at home, and (3) pathway of surface runoff in your watershed. Look at the watershed maps of your state to answer the following questions: In what town do you reside? Locate your town on the town map. Locate your watershed on the town map. [Read More]

No Child Left Inside Activity It’s the “Rain,” Man Grade Level: K-12 Earth Science Activity Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Adapted with permission. Background People find inspiration in many different places and things. Among them is taking joy in sensing the Earth around you. Feel the breeze on your face. Take in the fresh smell of the air after a spring rain. Use your hands to build something. Wherever you live you can get outside, savor your surroundings and observe what makes up the rhythms of the place you live. [Read More]

Land and People: Finding a Balance Activity Source: Adapted with permission by U.S. Geological Survey This environmental study project allows a group of students to consider real environmental dilemmas concerning water use and provide solutions to these dilemmas. The student packet (see Materials below) gives students most of the information they’ll need to answer the Focus Question, information such as maps, data, background, a reading about the region, and a description of the “Interested Parties,” or the various interest groups that have a stake in the outcome of the Focus Question. [Read More]

Liquefaction Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Soil Science Society of America. When it comes to slipping, sliding, and stability in soils, the key word is “liquefaction.” During an event like an earthquake, liquefaction is the process by which saturated soil behaves like a liquid. This can be problematic, as a liquid soil loses structure and can cause buildings to sink, foundations to crack, and soil to slide down slopes all at once. [Read More]

Look Up! Activity Source: Adapted with permission by The Weather Channel. To learn to read, write, and appreciate language and communication, it’s helpful to find subject matter that’s appealing, inspiring, and personal. The sky is a never-ending source of material that is available everyday to everyone. Get ready to set a course for sky exploration! The following activity is designed to help you learn to listen, read, and communicate in both written and oral formats about the sky. [Read More]

No Child Left Inside Activity Look Up! Observing Weather Grade Level: K-4 Earth Science Activity Source: Adapted with permission from The Weather Channel and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Background Weather is a very important part of everyday life. Every morning we look at the weather report to decide on what clothes to wear and how early we should leave for school or work. To get a better idea of how meteorologists (scientists who study weather) make weather predictions, students will begin their own weather journals and make rain gauges. [Read More]

Make a Thunderstorm Activity Source: Adapted from UCAR/NCAR Web Weather for Kids Background Even small thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people than tornadoes each year. Thunderstorms also cause heavy rain, flash flooding, hail, strong winds and tornadoes. When warm and cold air masses meet, a thunderstorm can grow. In this activity, you will learn about convection and how air moves. Time Needed One class period [Read More]

Mapping the Atmosphere American Meteorological Society Activity Source: American Meteorological Society. Adapted with permission. A map can represent data from an area on a flat surface. The part of our Earth system most frequently mapped is the atmosphere. Weather—the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time—needs constant monitoring because it perpetually changes as weather systems evolve and move. Awareness of what the weather is and is likely to be has numerous benefits. [Read More]