Carbon Footprint Discussion

Click on the photo to enlarge and project onto screen.

Listed below are several questions that you could put on a handout (pick the ones you like). Have students look at the diagram as homework (or at the start of class as a bell-ringer). Then use the questions to guide a classroom discussion, randomly calling on students for their responses. It is an effective way to get students to think about how their lifestyles are related to carbon dioxide emissions. The diagram (called a "Mind Map") was provided by www.live-the-solution.com.

Take a careful and thoughtful look at the diagram. On your handout (or on your own sheet of paper) complete the following tasks. You will hand your paper in and you will be expected to discuss the diagram in class.

1. New Title: If it were up to you, what title would you give to the diagram?

2. Questions:Write out three good questions that you have about parts of the diagram. The answers to your questions should not be found on the diagram, and the answers cannot be a simple fact.

3. Reaction: What is your reaction to specific things shown on the diagram, or what do you think would be the reaction of others to specific things on the diagram? List three reactions to specific things on the diagram.

4. Conservation: Education, laws, innovations, and incentives are some of the ways that we can get people to do the things on the diagram. List one of the things on the diagram that would go in the "innovations" category.

5. Laws (or taxes) can also cause conservation. Pick an item on the diagram and write a law that would make people adopt this practice.

6. Pick an item on the diagram and write a government (city, county, state, federal) incentive that would make people want to do it.

7. Pick an item that education might help to promote.

8. What is it about the diagram most surprised you?

9. Generally speaking, what are some reasons people don't do more of the things on the diagram? Be prepared to discuss these in class!

Show the True Shape of Earth's Orbit

CLICK HERE to view the Eccentricity Demonstrator. The shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle . . . BUT, it is pretty close. Unfortunately, textbooks often exaggerate the eccentricity of Earth's orbit. Use this online demonstration to let students see the true shape of our orbit, AND allow them to compare it to some of the more elliptical orbits of other objects.

Simply input the eccentricities to see the true orbital shapes. Earth is .02 (rounded), Mercury is .21, Pluto is .25, Halley's Comet is .97 (off the scale).

Because Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, the Earth is actually about 3 million miles closer to the Sun around January 2 than it is on July 4. Keep in mind that 3 million miles is not that much, considering the average distance between the Earth and Sun is about 93 million miles.

To view another interactive related to eccentricity, CLICK HERE.

Chinook Winds Explained on this 10-minute Pencast

To watch (and listen) to this Pencast, turn your volume on and then select full screen. Once the full screen appears, select Hide Preview in the lower right . . . and then play. Pencasts serve as a great review for students, and are especially helpful for students who missed class.

Click here to view the Chinook Wind Pencast (10 minutes)

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

Refraction Demonstration

I do this demonstration as I explain how the refraction of earthquake waves cause a "shadow zone". Much of what we know about the interior of the Earth has been learned from the analysis refracted earthquake waves.

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

See where the planets are right now (or in years past).

Solar System Live
Click on the link above (Solar System Live). Set the "size" at "900" and then select "update". Also, I like to show students where the planets were last year compared to this year. EXAMPLE BELOW: This small image shows where the planets (and Pluto) were in May 1983. For the fun of it, set the date to show the famous planet alignment of March 10, 1982. Click on the image to make it bigger. You can save the images and insert them into PowerPoint presentations. See if students can figure out which ones are visible in the night sky based on where the planets are in their orbits. Then show them this site: Planet finder

CLICK HERE to view a convenient list of other Earth Science Guy posts.

Varves from Ancient Glacial Lake Great Falls

Check out these varves located in a road-cut between Helena and Great Falls (Montana). Click on the photo for a better view. To learn more, go to this web site: www.formontana.net/glaciers.html

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

One of the Keys to Understanding Oceanic Circulation

This is a fun demonstration to do as you begin to teach about the connection between salinity and density (of ocean water). This concept plays a big roll in oceanic circulation.