UNIQUE LAB ACTIVITIES
Most of the labs that I use I have either written or adapted from other
sources. I know how hard it can be to find great labs that hold student
interest and actually result in them learning something. So I am
more than willing to share these with anyone who would like them.
I just ask that you send me $1 for each lab to help offset the cost of
mailing and copying them, and to help support my site.
ASTRONOMY LABS
GEOLOGY LABS
METEOROLOGY / CLIMATE LABS
MISC LABS
ENVIRONMENT
ASTRONOMY
BINARY SPACE MESSAGES
In this activity, students are introduced to the
method of sending a binary coded message into outer space in the hopes
of being picked up by intelligent extraterrestrial life. After trying a
simple message, they have to plot and then try to decipher the message
sent by the Arecibo radio telescope in 1974. (If you'd like a copy
of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a
copy). My address is on the About this Site
page)
CONSTELLATIONS
In this activity, students become familiar with the
common winter and summer constellations of the northern hemisphere.
Using unlabeled star maps, they are guided through the identification of
constellations and the brightest stars. (If you'd like a copy of
this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy).
My address is on the About this Site page)
COUNTING THE STARS
This activty has students practice a procedure, in
the classroom, to count the number of stars visible in the night sky.
After using it in the classroom, they then go outside at night and use
it again. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover
copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
ASTEROID ANGLES
This activity has students determine (mathematically)
the best time to try to divert an asteroid headed for the earth.
I show the beginning of Armageddon, and then let them do the math!!
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
BOMBER ON THE MOON
Using the dumbest photograph you have ever seen (from the Weekly World
News), I have students try to prove that the photograph is a fake, using
a moon atlas and a little logic.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this
Site page)
PUTTING ASTROLOGY TO THE TEST
This activity allows students to determine mathematically the accuracy
of using astrology to predict events and personalities.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
YOUR WEIGHT AND AGE ON OTHER PLANETS
This activity will allow a student to calculate their age and weight
on the other planets, based on the planets gravitation factor and revolution.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE
This activity will allow students to practice their latitude and longitude
plotting skills. They are given the coordinates of 17 famous ship
and plane disappearances, which they plot on a world map to discover the
truth about the Bermuda Triangle myth. (If you'd like a copy of this lab,
send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
THE ACTIVE AND QUIET SUN
This is an online activity. Students will look at some great photos
of sunspots. They will then view sunspot numbers from 1770 to the
present, and calculate the average length of a sunspot cycle, and then
the length of the longterm cycles. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send
me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
GEOLOGY
FAULTS
After constructing two fault models, students use the models to see the
differences between normal, thrust, and strike-slip faults, relating them
to different plate tectonic boundaries. (If you'd like a copy of this lab,
send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
DETERMINING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
This activty has students contour the water table to determine the groundwater
gradient, so that they can determine the direction of movement of pollution
that has entered the ground. Then, after a pumping well is put in,
students must recontour the area to account for the lowering of the
water table around the pumping well, and determine its effect on groundwater
movement. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
DETERMINING WEATHERING RATE
This two part activity guides students through the use of tombstones as
a means to calculating weathering rates. The first part deals with
the mathematics necessary to determine the rates, the second part outlines
the procedure to be used in a cemetery.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE FIRE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH: A FIELDTRIP GUIDE
This fieldtrip guide provides background geologic information on the longest
barrier beach on the south shore of Long Island. It includes specific
stops and suggested activities. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send
me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
TRACKING DINOSAURS
This activity will allow students to determine the speed at which a dinosaur
was moving by measuring its footrpints. I've figured out all the
formulas, they just have to measure the stride and footprint length, and
plug the numbers in. I usually copy footprints, taping them to the
floor, making a trackway. Or you can easily get data
on real trackways from lots of sources. (If you'd like a copy of this lab,
send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
CALCULATING THE SOUND FREQUENCY GENERATED BY A DINOSAUR
This activity contains cross sections of three dinosaurs skulls: a Parasaurolophus,
Corythosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Students measure the length of the nasal
cavity using string, and calculate the frequency of the sound that would
have been generated. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1
to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address is on
the About this Site page)
ESTIMATING DINOSAUR WEIGHTS
If you can get small, plastic scale models of dinosaurs, this is a great
activity. Students meaure the dimensions of the models, and measure
their volume using the displacement method. I figured out all the
conversions and formulas, students just plug the numbers in and get the
dinosaurs real weight. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me
$1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address is
on the About this Site page)
The Grand Canyon: A Slice of Time
This lab is designed so that your students take a 'trip' into the canyon,
playing the role of the detective geologist. You will either have to go
to the canyon, hike down to the river, and then hike back up, collecting
samples as you go (get a permit form the NPS) or, substitute rocks from
other places that match the descriptions. (If you'd like a
copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you
a copy). My address is on the About this Site page)
BEACH PROFILE INVESTIGATION
This lab allows students to plot beach profile data in an attempt to compare
the differences between winter and summer beaches (If you'd like a copy
of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a
copy). My address is on the About this Site
page)
ROCK IDENTIFICATION KEY
This activity will really push your students to understand the classification
of rocks. Given a set of rocks, they have to make a dichotomous key to
be used in their identificaiton. Then, the key (along with a rock sample
you secretly choose) is given to various "non science " people in the school.
If they can correctly identify the rock, the students gets a 100.
If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and
I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
THE GREAT QUAKE OF 1811
I think this is an awesome activity. Students read actual diary excerpts
from people living in various parts of the United States during the great
1811 quake. They then assign each entry a Mercalli Intensity number. Then
the Mercalli numbers are plotted on a US map, and the students contour
the intensities to locate the epicenter. Its a fun activity, it reinforces
contouring, and allows another method of epicenter location in additon
to the standard P/S wave method. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send
me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
THE HALF LIFE OF AN M & M
Using M & M's, have your students investigate the concept of half life
and fun while they are doing it ! (If you'd like a copy of this lab,
send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
ANALYZING SEDIMENTS
In this lab, students use a basic nested sieve set to study the sediment
distribution in a beach and glacier sediment sample. Histograms are then
constructed. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
CORRELATION
Using well log data from a friend who works in the oil business, students
first plot the data along the sections of five wells. Then using rock,
mineral and fossil descriptions from the well logs, students attempt to
correlate between wells in an attempt to determine the subsurface structure.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE
GLOBAL WARMING
This lab lets students explore some global data to try and make a decision
about whether or not global warming is occurring. In the first section,
students examine a graph of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere over
several years. It clearly shows a seasonal rise and fall that students
must explain. The second section is graph of carbon dioxide levels over
a much longer period which shows a long term trend. The third section is
a graph of worlwide temperatures over a long period as well. The fourth
section looks at sea level changes, and the fifth section analyzes the
number of intense hurricanes over the past 100 years. (If you'd like a
copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you
a copy). My address is on the About this Site
page)
STATION MODELS
This is pretty standard stuff. I made up a whole bunch of questions about
station models. Students have to read some, draw some, and then look at
several weather maps and interpret some. (If you'd like a copy of this
lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My
address is on the About this Site page)
EL NINO
Students are given a series of maps showing the sea surface temperatures
in the Pacific Ocean from March 1997 to May 98. They color in the
temperature zones, and answer questions related to the 1997-1998 El Nino
event. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
CROSS DATING TREE CORES
Students cut out four simulated tree cores, and by looking for unique patterns
of tree rings, are able to cross date them. (If you'd like a copy of this
lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My
address is on the About this Site page)
THE BLIZZARD OF 1993
Students analyze the Blizzard of 1993. They plot the location of
the Low pressure over a 3 day period, its associated fronts, and wind directions.
They then analyze the storm and answer questions about its path and effects.(If
you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and
I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
HURRICANES
This is an online activity. Students investigate the origin, movement
and trends of hurricanes. this is followed by an atempt to determine
if the intensity and frequency of hurricanes has been increasing as forecasted
by global warming models. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1
to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address is on
the About this Site page)
WEATHER FORECASTING
This is an online activity. Students connect to the Weather Channel website.
By viewing surface temperatures, precipitation, pressure, fronts, and jet
streams, they attempt to make a weather forecast for their city. (If you'd
like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will
send you a copy). My address is on the About this
Site page)
ENVIRONMENT
WHAT IS YOUR ANNUAL RADIATION DOSE?
Students are asked a variety of questions to determine what their annual
radiation dose is. The activity contains the mrem values for each
exposure, which students total up at the end. (If you'd like a copy of
this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy).
My address is on the About this Site page)
FOOD ADDITIVES
Students are given a listing of the ingredients on the labels of twenty
common food items, and then must match them with the product. (If you'd
like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will
send you a copy). My address is on the About this
Site page)
ECO-ETHICS
This activity allows students to examine their own values and beliefs as
they relate to the environment.(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send
me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address
is on the About this Site page)
MISCELLANEOUS
USING A GPS TO CALCULATE
THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE EARTH
All you need is a hand held GPS and a football field to measure the circumference
of the Earth. Drawing on the method that Eratosthenes used, students
can calculate the circumference with amazing accuracy
FIELDTRIP GUIDE TO THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY / DINOSAUR HALLS
This guide contains both a student and a teacher section. Includes
stops at the following: Barosaurus, Dinosaur embryo, Brontosaurus, Sauropod
Trackway, Tyrannasaurus Rex, Mummified skin. Contains a dinosaur
cladogram activity, and a dinosaur/human skeleton comparison. There
are a lot of pages. (If you'd like a copy of this guide, send me $2 to
cover copying/postage and I will send you a copy). My address is on the
About
this Site page)
MATH, EARTH SCIENCE AND YOU
I use this lab as an introduction to the math skills that are needed in
an earth science class. Students practice calculating percent error, solving
equations and proportions, calculating rate of change and making measurements.
There are lots of dinosaur problems and drawings of dinosaur footprints.
(If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
ANALYZING GRAPHS
This lab allows students to practice various graphing skills.
There are 6 small line graphs that they have to plot. This is great
practice for learning how to set up an axis. There are also two pie
graphs that need to be constructed, and a graphs from which rate calculations
are made. (If you'd like a copy of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage
and I will send you a copy). My address is on the About
this Site page)
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
Great overall practice using and understanding latitude and longitude.
Coordinates must be plotted and read from a copy of a world map,and cities
must be located on a globe. There are some tricky problem solving
questions, and questions from the reference tables. (If you'd like a copy
of this lab, send me $1 to cover copying/postage and I will send you a
copy). My address is on the About this Site
page)
RETURN TO NY EARTH SCIENCE TEACHER HOMEPAGE