Where Growth Meets Growth Activity Source: DiscoverySchool.com Credit: Susan Hurstcalderone, science and resource teacher, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C. Objective To identify fire risk factors for a property located near a wildland area. Materials copy of Where Growth Meets Growth student handout colored pencils Procedure One of the issues surrounding wildland fires involves areas where uncontrolled urban growth meets uncontrolled vegetative growth. People who live in these areas should take extra precautions to limit the effects of any nearby wildland fire that might occur. [Read More]

Why Settle at Mesa Verde Traditional geologic maps — sometimes crisscrossed with lines, blotted with colors, and marked with strike and dip symbols — have been used for at least 200 years to depict the geologic makeup of the Earth. Consider the map and other images of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado shown here. Each provides a different perspective on the geologic makeup of the area. President Theodore Roosevelt created the 52,485-acre Mesa Verde National Park in 1906 to recognize and protect sites of natural and historical significance. [Read More]

Your Own El Nino Activity Source: Adapted with permission by the National Weather Service from Discover Your World with NOAA: An Activity Book Background El Niño storms have taken thousands of lives and caused billions of dollars in damage in recent decades. Where do these storms come from? Every two to seven years, trade-winds in the Pacific Ocean slow down or reverse their direction — no one is sure why. [Read More]

No Child Left Inside Activity Your Own Greenhouse Grade Level: 3-5 Earth Science Activity Source: ARM and the U.S. Department of Energy. Adapted with permission. Background As far back as ancient Greek and Roman times, people built structures that created an indoor environment suited to growing plants throughout the year. This enabled the gardener to establish a measure of control over growing conditions and extend the growth period into the colder seasons of the year. [Read More]