Model of a Well Activity Source: Nebraska Earth Systems Education Network, School of Natural Resources, by Marianne Bonnemier Background Groundwater is contained in the zone of saturation below the land surface. The top of this zone is known as the water table. People can tap into this source of water by drilling wells. The depth of the well and level of the water table greatly influences the wells productivity. Objective Demonstrate the relationship of groundwater to wells. [Read More]

Modeling an Oil Reserve Activity Source: Adapted with permission by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists from AGI’s Earth System Science in the Community (EarthComm), 2005. Background Since 1970, oil and natural gas have provided more than half of the energy used each year in the United States to produce electricity, heat, transportation fuels, and many everyday products from balloons to vitamins. Oil and natural gas are forms of petroleum, a word that literally means “oily rock. [Read More]

Modeling Earth’s Water — Fresh vs. Salty Activity Source: Source: U.S. Geological Survey. Adapted with permission. We drink water every day — we can’t live without it! About 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water, but how much of Earth’s water is actually drinkable? In other words, how much is liquid freshwater — not salty or frozen? Materials • Globe or world map • Water cycle diagram • 100 gummy bears [Read More]

Modeling Earthquake Waves Activity Source: American Geophysical Union. Adapted with permission from Investigating Earth Systems , American Geosciences Institute. An earthquake occurs when massive rock layers slide past each other. This motion makes enormous vibrations, which travel from the site of the earthquake in waves. The waves (seismic waves) travel all the way through the Earth. Seismologists can record these waves when they reach Earth’s surface using seismographs. Earthquakes generate three kinds of waves: Compressional waves (P waves) travel the fastest. [Read More]

Modeling Oil and Gas Reservoirs Activity Source: Adapted with permission by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists from AGI’s EarthComm, Earth’s Natural Resources, pp. R65-R66. This activity will help you to understand some of the factors that petroleum geologists need to consider when deciding where to recommend drilling for oil. Since people use petroleum products for energy and as source materials for petrochemicals, it is important as citizen scientists to understand the science and technology behind the search for oil and natural gas. [Read More]

Monitoring Life in the Rocky Intertidal Ecosystem Activity Source: NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program and Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association, 2006. Adapted with permission. Background The five national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast monitor the health of the rocky intertidal ecosystem. One way of doing this is to collect data on the relative abundance of the organisms living in that ecosystem. Since this is such a big task, the national marine sanctuaries are training students in how to follow standardized protocols to help with the monitoring. [Read More]

Monitoring Sustainability: Land Cover Data Activity Source: Earth Science Information Partners, Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals Background Almost every aspect of life — ​our homes, food and water sources, and outdoor activities — ​is connected to the land on which we live.. Landsat satellites collect images of Earth’s surface but cannot zoom in enough to monitor small-scale changes. The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program has created an app so you can help fill in the gaps in the global dataset. [Read More]

More Power to You! Activity Source: U.S. Geological Survey Grade Levels: 7-10 Background Energy and access to it is the bedrock of the modern world, powering everything from industries and cities to your school and home. Have you ever wondered where the energy that powers your school comes from? Or where Earth’s natural energy materials, such as coal and uranium, originate? In this activity, you will explore an interactive map to identify U. [Read More]

Mud Fossils Activity Source: USGS Learning Web Lesson Plans. Background At the close of the 18th century, the haze of fantasy and mysticism that tended to obscure the true nature of the Earth was being swept away. Careful studies by scientists showed that rocks had diverse origins. Some rock layers, containing clearly identifiable fossil remains of fish and other forms of aquatic animal and plant life, originally formed in the ocean. [Read More]

My Mineral Activity Source: The Mineralogical Society of America Background Minerals are the naturally occurring solid materials that make up rocks and sands and are found in soil. You have probably heard of minerals such as diamond, halite (table salt), graphite, garnet, and quartz, but there are many others. New minerals are being discovered all the time. There are 6,017 minerals as of this writing, and you can learn about them online in the Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogy4Kids, and on the Mindat website. [Read More]