Geology

A series of resources to teach mapping skills, including topographic and geologic maps to students. (This site is full of  other earth science teaching resources as well.) Provided by the U.S. Geologic Survey. 

Scope and Sequence connections: 7:1 Geology and Earth Science: Geology: Mapping. 

In this virtual lab on the identification of minerals in rocks, students can conduct the lab, and record their results and observations in an online journal. Created by McGraw Hill. Geology. Requires Flash.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology.

This lesson includes an in depth sequence of steps that lead to the mini-project.  It also includes handouts as well as a rubric for the timeline project. Shared by Better Lesson.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology.

The Geological Society shares this list of activities, experiments and lesson plans to engage students with topics in earth science.   

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology. 

Students explore the importance, characteristics and structure of earth's layers and plate tectonics with this interactive from the Annenberg Learner. This is essentially an interactive textbook for students to read; the quiz at the end can help to assess their understanding of the content. 

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; Earth science: Geology: Plate tectonics.

Animations, lessons and other teaching resources on plate tectonics and boundaries. Teachers can filter by concept, resource type and level. Provided by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; Earth Science: Geology: Plate tectonics.
Performance standard: 2.1j, 2.1k, 2.1l, 2.1m, 2.1n, 2.1o, 2.1p.

Resources and a short video explaining tectonic force and tectonic plates. By NASA.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth. 

In this activity, explore three kinds of boundaries where tectonic plates meet: divergent, where two plates spread apart; convergent, where two plate push against each other; and transform, where two plates slide past each other. Shared by PBS Learning Media.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; Earth Science: Geology: Plate tectonics.
Performance standard: 2.1l.

Students can see the relationship between earthquakes, volcanoes and the boundaries of tectonic plates. Also included are discussion questions and a background essay. Shared by PBS Learning Media. Please note Flash is required to use the interactive map.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology.

Over the course of three days, students conduct a series of experiments in pairs through which they explore the processes and effects of weathering and erosion. Using the results from these explorations, they design and conduct an experiment comparing the rate of erosion in different biomes. This activity allows students to learn about weathering and erosion, and illustrates how scientists often use the results of one experiment to inspire another and/or use initial observations to inform a hypothesis.  Shared by Understanding Science from  the University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley.

Scope and Science connection: 7:1 Geology

PBS created a still collage of images that depict surface features of the Earth that result from weather and erosion. Included with the images are a background essay and discussion questions. 

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology.