Earth Science

Relative Dating "What's Up?" Activity     When discussing rocks and geological time, it is important to be able to identify what exactly was here first. Rocks... of course, but what kinds of rocks were laid first? Because we had previously learned about rocks, this was somewhat easy for us to predict. However, there are certain theories that specify which types of rocks lay in specific places, and what this means for their age. Based on the "What's Up?" Activity these theories/ideas are: The Law of Superposition:  In a sequence of un-deformed sedimentary rocks, the oldest beds are on the bottom and the youngest are on the top Principle of Original Horizontality:  Sedimentary layers are horizontal, or nearly so when originally deposited. Strata that are not horizontal have been deformed by movements of the Earth’s crust Principle of Inclusion:  A rock body that contains inclusions of preexisting rocks is younger than the rocks from which the inclusions came f...

Climate Change     In class today, we did an activity relating to climate change. I enjoyed discussing this topic, as it is something that affects the day-to-day life of everyone. Not to mention, this will continue to be the case as long as no long-term solution is enacted. In our activity today, we discussed potential solutions to this issue based on an interactive graph that we were able to manipulate. Some, if not all solutions that were proposed are much, much easier said than done. For example, while obviously, it would be beneficial for the environment to dramatically decrease carbon emissions all at once, this is simply not a realistic option. Below are other solutions that were presented.     As a class, we came to the conclusion that a solution in which carbon emissions are gradully decreased over many years is the best solution.     I really enjoyed manipulating the interactive graph. Something that I will focus on in my future classroom is incorp...

JamBoard     An activity that has proven beneficial when done at the begining of new units is the use of JamBoard. This is something I have taken from this class that I will replicate in my future classroom. Similar to the concept maps, it is important to identify what students know about a topic before moving forward. When JamBoard is used, everyone is allowed to post comments individually to be discussed among the whole class. Not to mention, the student is asked to elaborate on their point, which is benefical in terms of the recollection of knowledge.     A JamBoard can be used on many occasions in the classroom. As I preivously mentioned, in MSED 252, we used JamBoards mostly to estblish background knowledge on the upcoming unit. However, in other classes, I have used JamBoards to state goals and expecations of the class at the beginning of the semester. They can also be used in group projects, when trying to keep track of group information and possible content r...

Visualize the Rock Cycle     In class today, we did an activity in which my classmates and I physically moved through the rock cycle as rocks ourselves. While it might seem like a silly thing for college students to be doing, it really helped me visualize the rock cycle in my head, which will in turn help me on the quiz. I have mentioned this in previous posts, but having an interesting acitivy to pair with important content is extremely beneficial.       As a student, I can prove this theory myself. Throughout all my years of schooling, the class I remember the most is my 8th grade science class. This is because my teacher had a demonstration or lab prepared almost everyday. For key concepts that we spent more time on, this meant multiple hands-on acitivies that I could pair the content with. When I would take tests, I would focus on the lab associated with the specific question and could easily remember the information.     This is something I w...

Rock Identification Labs     The Rock Identification Labs over the last two weeks have been my favorite of all labs this semester. Living in the UP over the last two years has made me look closer at my surroundings... including the rocks. As a result of the information I have gained over the last two weeks, I am now able to take an even further look at the rocks I observe on a day-to-day basis. Similar to the Mineral Identification Labs, the emphasis of these labs were on the process. While identifying rocks is similar to identifying minerals, the processes certainly have their differences. Not to mention, there are three distinct kinds of rocks with different characteristcs to look for in terms of their identification. Below are the components to look for when identifying igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks as well as my Rock Identification Lab II Answer Key. Igneous Specimen Texture Colors (Light, Intermediate, Dark) Dominant Minerals Rock Name Answer Key: 8 Rough, a...

Mineral Identification Labs       Despite its name, the goal of the assignment was not necessarily to identify the correct mineral. This is why I enjoyed it so much. Rather than getting the correct answer, the most important part of this lab was the process. When learning about minerals, this is important for students to understand. While the goal is to get the correct answer, doing the steps correctly and identifying the correct components of the mineral will get eventually get the student to that point. As described by the Mineral ID Lab Assignment, in regard to minerals, this process includes looking at: Overall Observation Color Luster Streak Heft Hardness Report as < or > Fracture/Cleavage Description Reacts to Acid Other Properties Theorized Name Overall Observation: The Loupe or Magnifiers are must-have accessories hanging around the neck of every geologist and rock-hound. 10x magnification lets you get up and personal with rocks and minerals. Magnifying loup...