Welcome to Earth Science Week Online Toolkit
Each year the American Geosciences Institute celebrates Earth Science Week with our members and partners to acknowledge and understand Earth and our relationship with the planet through programs, information and learning resources. This year Earth Science Week is October 10 – 16, 2021.
The teaching and learning resources you will find on this page have been developed by AGI and our members and partners to help educators teach about our planet and its systems. Some resources are specific to exploring this year’s theme— Water Today and for the Future —while others include teacher professional development opportunities and information about online resources and geoscience careers. Many of these you may also find in the printed toolkit, which you can order here.
Please enjoy the materials you find on this site and send any feedback to info@earthsciweek.org.
Happy Earth Science Week!
Odyssey of the Eyes
Description: Earth inspires, and one of the most impressive ways to view the Earth is from miles above Earth's surface. In this activity students are encouraged to think creatively to become familiar with spacial concepts of location, distance, direction and scale and are introduced to various scales of remotely sensed data. They will create a 3-D model of an area and develop a classification system for the landforms in the model, then create a map using their eyes as remote sensors to view the model from a variety of heights and perspectives.
Organization: The GLOBE Program
Description: Earth inspires, and one of the most impressive ways to view the Earth is from miles above Earth's surface. In this activity students are encouraged to think creatively to become familiar with spacial concepts of location, distance, direction and scale and are introduced to various scales of remotely sensed data. They will create a 3-D model of an area and develop a classification system for the landforms in the model, then create a map using their eyes as remote sensors to view the model from a variety of heights and perspectives.
Organization: The GLOBE Program
Type of Resource: Classroom activity
Activity Elements: Physical lab
Activity Resources:
- Art supplies
- Lab supplies
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: No
Disciplinary Core Ideas: ESS 2 - Earth's systems
Earth's System: ESS2.A - Earth materials and systems
Science and Engineering: Developing and using models
Fieldwork Among the Pixels: Virtual and Augmented Reality Diversify Geoscience Education
Description: 8 pgs. May/June 2018 EARTH Magazine article. PG 72 - 79.
Article on how virtual reality is being used to promote diversity in geoscience education.
Organization: American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
Description: 8 pgs. May/June 2018 EARTH Magazine article. PG 72 - 79.
Article on how virtual reality is being used to promote diversity in geoscience education.
Organization: American Geosciences Institute (AGI)
Type of Resource: News/Article
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: No
The Water Cycle for Schools
Description: Students may think that every drop of rain that falls from the sky, or each glass of water that they drink, is brand new, but it has always been here and is a part of the water cycle as they will see in this student-friendly water cycle diagram.
Organization: USGS
Description: Students may think that every drop of rain that falls from the sky, or each glass of water that they drink, is brand new, but it has always been here and is a part of the water cycle as they will see in this student-friendly water cycle diagram.
Organization: USGS
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Acidification in our ocean
 - Ocean Acidification.png "First page of Acidification in our ocean")
Description: Infographic describing both ocean and coastal acidification and how they can impact marine life such as corals and fish, along with what we can do to help.
Organization: NOAA - Coral Reef Conservation Program
Description: Infographic describing both ocean and coastal acidification and how they can impact marine life such as corals and fish, along with what we can do to help.
Organization: NOAA - Coral Reef Conservation Program
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Groundwater Water Education Poster
Description: Poster details surface and sub-surface features of the groundwater system.
Organization: USGS
Description: Poster details surface and sub-surface features of the groundwater system.
Organization: USGS
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Groundwater and land use in the water cycle
Description: Poster presents a detailed depiction of groundwater and land use activities as they relate to the water cycle process.
Organization: WI DNR
Description: Poster presents a detailed depiction of groundwater and land use activities as they relate to the water cycle process.
Organization: WI DNR
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Ocean Acidification
.png "First page of Ocean Acidification")
Description: How do the oceans and atmosphere interact? Is there an exchange of CO2? Does it cause changes in ocean pH? This poster presents the chemistry of ocean acidification.
Organization: Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Description: How do the oceans and atmosphere interact? Is there an exchange of CO2? Does it cause changes in ocean pH? This poster presents the chemistry of ocean acidification.
Organization: Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Water Scarcity
Description: Physical water scarcity occurs when there is not enough water to meet all demands. Economic water scarcity is caused by a lack of investment in water or a lack of human capacity to satisfy the demand for water, even in places where water is abundant. Both are shown in this infographic.
Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Description: Physical water scarcity occurs when there is not enough water to meet all demands. Economic water scarcity is caused by a lack of investment in water or a lack of human capacity to satisfy the demand for water, even in places where water is abundant. Both are shown in this infographic.
Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Type of Resource: Poster - content only
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Water: The resource that gets used & used & used for everything!
Description: How many uses of water can you name? At last count this colorful poster portrays no fewer than a dozen categories of uses of water.
Organization: USGS
Description: How many uses of water can you name? At last count this colorful poster portrays no fewer than a dozen categories of uses of water.
Organization: USGS
Type of Resource: Poster - with activity
Activity Elements: Physical lab
Activity Resources: Lab supplies
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know
Disciplinary Core Ideas: ESS 3 - Earth and human activity
Earth and Human Activity: ESS3.A - Natural resources
Science and Engineering:
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Engaging in argument from evidence
Ice Flows Game
Description: What happens when warmer seawater comes into contact with ice in Antarctica? This game encourages students to learn as they take the roll of a penguin in the game.
Organization: University of Exeter
Description: What happens when warmer seawater comes into contact with ice in Antarctica? This game encourages students to learn as they take the roll of a penguin in the game.
Organization: University of Exeter
Type of Resource: Other
Language(s):
Present in Physical Kit: Don't Know