El Nino Explained on a "Pencast"

El Nino
brought to you by Livescribe

This is a way that students can listen to the teacher explain concepts online. Pencasts are especially helpful for students who have missed class, or just want another chance to have a concept explained. Pencasta are easily produced using a Livescribe "smart pen". To view a pencast, such as the El Nino Pencast (above), turn your volume on, select "full screen", then "hide preview" in the lower right, and then "play".

Simple, Effective Gas Density Demonstration

This demonstration fits nicely into a unit on volcanism or density. It will help students realize that there are differences in the densities of gases, and help them understand how this can affect the behavior of gases.

In August of 1986 a lethal cloud of carbon dioxide gas erupted from the depths of Lake Nyos in Africa, killing over 1,700 people in a valley below. Tremendous amounts of the gas, dissolved in the cold, deep waters of the lake, were released as the water came to the surface. As the water rose, decreasing pressure caused bubbles to form just as they do when a bottle of cola is opened. Since carbon dioxide is more dense than air, the invisible gas descended into the populated valley, causing the deaths.

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.

What if the Sun were the size of a golf ball?

Here is a fun scale model calculator for the solar system. Input a diameter for the Sun and then find out how big, and how far away the planets would be. Use a golf ball for an example (1.6 inches). CLICK HERE to try it out. Here are some other diameters to play with: soccer ball=8.65", volleyball=8.5", softball=3.8", baseball=2.9", mens' basketball=9.4", womens' basketball=9.07". . . The calculator will even tell you how far it is to certain stars and how big other stars are. For example, if the Sun were the size of a golf ball, Alph Centauri would be 732.8 miles away from the Sun, and Betelgeuse would have a diameter of 50 ft.

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.

Check out WARD's Exploring Convection Activity.

Collection of Earth Science Diagrams

Here is a great collection of Earth Science illustrations and diagrams. The images were produced by Dr. Bruce Railsback for basic geology classes at the University of Georgia. Educators are welcome to use them in their teaching, so long as they are not reproduced in publications and are not used for financial gain. The images make nice additions to PowerPoint presentations. CLICK HERE to see what's available.

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.

Earth Science Share-A-Thon Web Site

Here is a smorgasbord of useful Earth Science stuff, including activities, movie handouts, presentations, puzzles, worksheets, etc. The huge collection of files has been contributed by teachers from all over the USA. New York Earth Science teacher, Christopher Sheehan, created and manages the site. CLICK HERE to check it out. You're sure to find something you can use. Everything on the site can be downloaded and used in your classroom free of charge!

Spaceweather.com

This is a great site when it comes to finding the latest news and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, sunspots, and near-Earth asteroids. CLICK HERE to check it out. The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on August 12-13. Observers are reporting about a dozen meteors per hour. Unfortunately a full moon will reduce visibility on peak night.

What do rhinos in Nebraska and geysers in Billings have to do with the Yellowstone Hot Spot?

Here's a place that will help make "hot spots" (volcanism) more interesting to students. Its the most fascinating Earth Science place I've ever visited. . . The Ashfall Fossil Site in north-central Nebraska. Over 100 rhinos, as well as many other prehistoric animals, have been unearthed there since its discovery in the 1970s. They were buried beneath 8 feet of volcanic ash! To find out what this has to do with the hot spot beneath Yellowstone Park and learn much more about the site, CLICK HERE.