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1. How can boundaries of tectonic plates be inferred from the location of earthquakes and volcanoes? websites
2. How do folded and faulted rock layers provide evidence of the gradual up and down motion of the Earth's crust?
3. How does glaciation, weathering, and erosion create and shape valleys and floodplains? websites
Focus questions | Science Projects | Web links | Videos
Class Assignments - September 22 - October 2
Science Projects
Geological History : Examine this timeline and develop your own geological timeline. Make sure to have accurate intervals
CT Geology - Using the links below, write or illustrate about important events in Connecticut's geological past
Seafloor Spreading: Make this model and explain seafloor spreading.
Sunset Crater Volcano : This volcano in Arizona erupted sometime between 1040 and 1100. Take a virtual field trip through the park and document (in your words) what you see.
Volcano Explorer - Discovery Channel interactive - Take notes on information, then change the viscosity and gas levels to see what type of volcano will appear. Record your results.
How do Calderas form?: Messy, but fun. Take a picture of the results and explain what happened.
Yellowstone: Develop a poster, powerpoint, or write a children's book on the geology of Yellowstone National Park
Hot Topics on the Ocean Floor - Choose a topic and write about it
NASA research on the Dust Bowl : Read and take notes with summary
Careers in GeoSciences: Review information about careers in the field of geology.
Geological Timeline - Review Geological history and see how it is determined.
Windows to the Universe - Earth's Interior and Exterior - Information, animations, and current events relating to Earth's composition.
Interior of the Earth - USGS description of the Earth's interior.
This Dynamic Earth - Online version of the USGS publication. Hyperlinks to images and animations.
What on Earth is Plate Tectonics? - USGS uses the Geology of the National Parks to illustrate important concepts of Plate Tectonics.
Plate Tectonics - Dive and Discover with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and learn about plate tectonics.
Plate Tectonics - University of California Museum of Paleontology - history, animations, and explanations of Plate Tectonics. Good animations of plate movement.
Cookie Subduction - What happens when oceanic crust subducts under continental crust?
Plate Tectonics - USGS animations. Review the National Parks sorted by tectonic setting
Volcanoes
Examining the Mariana's - This website from Scripps describes a scientific expedition to the western edge of the Pacific plate. It gives good descriptions of the Earth's layers and the subduction zone that creates the Mariana Trench. Check out the video on Anatahan!
Hydrothermal vents- Read about this expedition to the ocean floor of the South Atlantic.
Volcano World - Updated information on current erupting volcanos, informatin, activities and images - everything you want to know about volcanos!
Volcano Hazards Program - USGS updates on current volcanic activity
Earthquakes
Earthquakes for Kids- Learn all about earthquakes on a kid-friendly site.
Soils
Soil-net.com - UK site that offers everything you want to know about soil. It includes animations on natural cycles, functions of soil, activities and many links
Connecticut's Geology
USGS Connecticut - A listing of Connecticut's landforms and their history.
Science in Your Backyard - USGS site that gives links to real time information on Earth Science in Connecticut
Connecticut's Geology - Wesleyan University website. Not currently updated, but it does contain good maps and images of local features.
All About Glaciers- National Snow and Ice Data Center - information, data and facts, including links to pictures of repeated photos of glaciers.
Jokoshavn Glacier in Greenland - This glacier is quickly moving, as far as glaciers go. Watch this video to see what is happening
How Icebergs Work - Learn everything you wanted to know about icebergs
Layers of the Earth - Learn more about the characteristics of the Earth's layers
Fault Block Mountains - See how these mountains are formed
How Earthquakes Work - Visual explanation of Earthquakes
Moving Mountains - Choose Earth: Features for information on the STEEP Project in South Central Alaska where geologists are studying how the St. Elias mountains formed and the many geologic events that have occured in this area. This was filmed the week after Mrs. McMinn worked with these same geologists in the summer of 2007.
Yellowstone: The Fire Below - Choose Earth: Features for a geologist's point of view of the Yellowstone Caldera
EarthTime - Seven short clips on geological history and how scientists determine Earth's history.
Determining the Age of Things * Zircon Time Capsules * Scientific Process, Hypothesis and Prediction * Half-Life, Decay of Uranium to Lead Over Time * Scientific Process, Field Work Data Collection * Scientific Process - Lab Work, Testing and Analysis * EarthTime - The Long Past, The Hopeful Future
Fastest Glacier - NOVA video that shows what happens when a glacier melts too fast
Class Assignment September 22 - October 2