Big ideas in Earth science

Blog Post | June 2009

Many current approaches to the design of curriculum and instruction are emphasizing the use of “big ideas” (aka essential questions, overarching themes) as an organizing framework for courses or units. I’ve done several…

Earth materials, features, and processes

Blog Post | October 2008

Which branch of science seems to attract lifelong learners? You can make a strong case for the life or physical sciences, but my vote would go to the earth sciences! We spend time stargazing at night, watching the…

Where Do You Find Earth’s Plates?

Lesson Plan | July 2021

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s plates. The probe is designed to find out where students think tectonic plates are located.

A Lesson in Geospatial Inquiry

Page | November 2019

A Lesson in Geospatial Inquiry Geospatial Inquiry is an educational framework that offers students an opportunity to engage with, and become curious about, geospatial data for a defined purpose. We define Geospatial Inquiry as: “Asking and answering a question through the analysis and communication of data that is…

A Thematic Integration of Physical and Earth Science for Elementary Education Students: Unifying the Breadth of Science Topics Around Common Themes in a Class for Prospective Teachers

Journal Article | February 1999

This article features an activity-based science course for elementary education students. The course uses a thematic approach that naturally integrates chemistry, physics, and Earth science with activities and themes…

Environments of Our Earth: I Wonder Why

NSTA Kids | August 2013

Take a world tour between the covers of a book! Environments of Our Earth guides children through six types of regions that are shaped by rainfall—or the lack thereof. Readers take a journey that starts with dense…

Earth, Sun, and Moon (Student Edition)

Interactive E-book Student Edition | July 2016

The Earth, Sun, and Moon Interactive E-book* uses diagrams, illustrative visual aids, and multimedia to help teachers, students, and other readers understand the interplay between Earth, Sun and Moon, and the…

Earth's Changing Surfaces (Student Edition)

Interactive E-book Student Edition | July 2016

Earth is a system that exists in dynamic equilibrium. The Earth of today does not look the same as it did millions of years ago. Even the Earth thousands of years ago has distinct differences from the Earth we know…