Cool Paleogeography Site

Dr. Ron Blakey of Northern Arizona University has provided an amazing collection of maps depicting the Earth at various times in the past. CLICK HERE to read about the terms of use, etc. and then select "Gallery of Products" or "Enter the Library" to gain access to the maps. The colorful maps can be used to enhance presentations related to plate tectonics or Earth's history. The map at the right shows the Earth 340 million years ago, during the Mississippian Period.

Reminder: Watch "NOVA: Deadliest Volcanoes" Wednesday, Jan. 4 on PBS.

NOVA Shows Students How Science Works

It looks like NOVA will be featuring some really interesting Earth Science topics over the next couple months. CLICK HERE to see the schedule. Scroll down and select "More Upcoming Posts" to see programing through February 1st. NOVA comes on Wednesday evenings on PBS (check your local listings). Although I watch NOVA for my own education and enjoyment, I do show some episodes to my students throughout the year. Typically I make up a worksheet with 10 questions for them to answer as they watch. The programs are especially effective at showing students how real scientists do research. Here are the titles of upcoming shows related to Earth Science.

December 28: Extreme Ice and Secrets Beneath the Ice (both re-runs)

January 4: Deadliest Volcanoes (new)

February 1: Ice Age Death Trap (new)

Here are some downloadable worksheets from some of the NOVA programs that I use in class.

Magnetic Storm

Mystery of the Megavolcano (Toba)

The Last Extinction

Animate these Global Maps from NASA's Earth Observatory

NASA satellites provide a global view of what’s happening on our planet. To explore how key parts of Earth’s climate system change from month to month, CLICK HERE. There are 16 different maps that you can animate to watch how different aspects of the Earth change over several years. One of my favorites is "snow cover".

A Little Culture for You

As I was looking for a way to make Chinook winds more interesting to my students, I found a great music video on YouTube called, "The Bear Who Stole the Chinook", by Jack Gladstone. Gladstone's song is based on a Native American story about the Chinook winds, which deliver heat to the east slopes of the Rockies in Montana and Alberta. A search led me to maps that revealed a remarkable correlation between the part of Montana-Alberta where Chinook winds are most common, and the homeland of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

CLICK HERE to find out how to use the video, learn more about these warm winds, and download a PowerPoint presentation (includes the maps and many more images).

Amazing BBC Video Segment Shows Formation of Brinicles (brine icicles)

BBC cameramen captured the formation of a "brinicle" (brine icicle) for the first time ever. Brinciles are columns of ice that form under very calm ocean conditions, when there's a big difference between the water temperature (-1.9C) and the air temperature (-20C). CLICK HERE to watch a video of this amazing process. This phenomenon is related to several concepts, including salinity, density, freezing points, etc. To learn more CLICK HERE to go to "Nature News".

Rock Cycle Pencast and Student Handout

Rock Cycle
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When it comes to teaching geology, I think that the two most important concepts are plate tectonics and the rock cycle. If students understand those two concepts AND develop an interest in geology, they are ready for a lifetime of learning more. This week's resource is a Pencast that demonstrates how I explain the rock cycle to my freshmen Earth Science students at Helena High. Here's how to view the Pencast:

1. Make sure your volume is on so you can listen.
2. Select the Full Screen option to see a larger view of the page.
3. In the lower right, select Hide Preview and then the play arrow. Pause the Pencast at any time.
4. To Print a copy of the Pencast (pdf file), go back to reduced screen and select Download as PDF from menu to left.

The Pencast is great for students who missed class, or simply want a review. Students fill in the handout as I explain the rock cycle, and then do the rest on their own. CLICK HERE to print a copy. The handout is designed for Montana students, but you can easily write a set of statements that features specific rocks in your state or region. CLICK HERE to view the Pencast on the actual Pencast site.

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

Let students crush some cans!

Meteorologists make a really big deal out of pressure . . . and rightfully so. But atmospheric pressure is a tough concept for students wrap their minds around. I like to use a couple really fun demonstrations/activities to introduce the topic. Near the end of a class period, I show them the can-crush as a demonstration, and then the next day I let each student crush 2 cans. Also on that second day (our classes are 50 minutes), after they are finished crushing cans (15 minutes), I set them down and show them the spoutin' fountain demonstration . . . and then we discuss the science behind both activities. CLICK HERE to print out a copy of the teacher guide, which includes suggestions as well as questions to guide your discussion. CLICK HERE to watch the YouTube video of the spoutin' fountain demonstration. NOTE: As I do the "Spoutin' Fountain Demo", instead of using a clamp to hold the flask, I recommend handling it with heat-resistant gloves.